$4.2m Saints signing Jack Silvagni concussed in first outing as Jamarra Ugle-Hagan struggles in Suns debut
Updated . First published at
St Kilda defender Jack Silvagni was concussed in an innocuous incident, just minutes after making his debut in his new colours.
Going back with the flight of the ball in a marking contest, the 28-year-old appears to cop a stray elbow from new captain Callum Wilkie during the comfortable scratch match win over Gold Coast.
Silvagni remained down on his knees, checking his cheek for blood after the incident and was later ruled out with a concussion.
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St Kilda star recruit Jack Silvagni concussed. Instagram
He will now enter 12-day protocols, which doesn't leave a heap of room for error. St Kilda plays Collingwood in Opening Round in just 17 days.
St Kilda splashed out to lure the father-son Blue out of Princes Park in free agency, offering him a five-year deal worth $850,000 per season.
Silvagni was a third-generation Carlton player, though his father, Stephen, is now the list boss at the Saints.
He has played just 29 games across the last three seasons. A torn ACL wiped out his 2024, while separate knee and groin injuries limited him otherwise.
But he was repositioned as a key defender by the Blues in 2025, leading to some of the best form of his career, before the groin issue flared up, hence St Kilda's hefty offer.
It was otherwise a strong night for the Saints, thumping an undermanned Gold Coast 16.11. (107) to 4.12. (36).
The Suns were without Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson, Sam Collins and Ben King due to Origin duties, while Charlie Ballard and Jake Rogers missed through injury.
Damien Hardwick and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session. Getty
Gold Coast called upon the recently retired Alex Sexton and David Swallow, last year's finals hero, to make up the numbers given their lack of bodies. Both have signed on to play VFL for the club this year.
St Kilda's other key recruit in Sam Flanders starred through the midfield, though official stats were not kept for the game.
Young forward Max Hall kicked four goals, while small forward Jack Higgins booted three in the 71-point win.
It was also our first look at Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in Gold Coast colours after he missed the entire 2025 season with off-field issues at the Bulldogs.
The key forward kicked his first goal in the fourth term of the game, with former Brisbane player Richard Champion saying on the Fox Footy commentary Ugle-Hagan has "found it tough tonight".
Suns assistant coach Shaun Grigg was just excited to see the former No.1 pick on the field.
"I think it was his first game in over 400 days so for him to be out on the footy field (was) awesome for us to see," Grigg said after the match.
"He will learn some lessons, but for us it was (about) getting him out there and getting him through.
"He got through the game and he played the four quarters for us, so (it was) invaluable time for him."
Star Suns recruit Christian Petracca showed promising signs of returning to his best footy, playing heavy midfield minutes in Rowell's absence.
Gold Coast will likely have a more full strength hit-out on February 26 when they take on Brisbane in their AAMI Community Series game.
St Kilda, meanwhile, faces Essendon on February 28 in Ballarat.
