Sydney have been named as the rival club "in the box seat" for contracted Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who faces an uncertain future at the Kennel.
Ugle-Hagan's return to football amid personal issues is not yet clear, with coach Luke Beveridge unable to give a definitive answer on the former No.1 pick's road back to the senior side.
The 22-year-old is under contract until the end of next year on a two-year deal he signed in 2024, knocking back the interest of rival clubs.
External interest in the key forward's services are said to be piqued again in 2025 given Ugle-Hagan's current circumstances, with Geelong already revealed as a club keen on the young gun.
According to First Crack's Jay Clark, the Swans are viewed as the frontrunner for Ugle-Hagan.
"I'm not convinced he's staying at the Western Bulldogs," Clark said on Sunday. "Sydney, for mine, is the club that's in the box seat.
"Have they got a void there or not? Is he the perfect fit or not?
"(Tom) McCartin goes back, (Joel) Amartey is forward, but there's still a bit of a void there."
The Bulldogs would have to agree to a trade deal to see Ugle-Hagan depart given the athletic attacker's contract status, with any move another personnel blow for the Footscray-based club.
The Dogs were required to trade Bailey Smith to Geelong over the off-season as the midfielder assessed the open market at the end of his contract, while the club was open to facilitating trades for contracted pair Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel to St Kilda and North Melbourne respectively.
Like the exits of their senior ball winners, the Dogs have depth to support their forward line if Ugle-Hagan were to move, with young tall Sam Darcy enjoying a bright start to this season while Aaron Naughton remains contracted with the club through to the end of the 2032 season.
The Dogs have a number of contract calls to make this year, with Marcus Bontempelli, Ed Richards, Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar among their list of players unsigned beyond the current season.
