Geelong coach Chris Scott has admitted that the Cats could potentially explore a trade for troublesome Western Bulldogs star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, not shying away from Geelong's bold trade target strategies.
The Cats have continuously lured star rival players to Kardinia Park this century, allowing for Geelong to remain in the upper rungs of the ladder year after year.
Former Giant Jeremy Cameron is arguably the competition's best current player and delivered premiership success to the Cats in 2022, alongside former Crow Patrick Dangerfield, who also won a Brownlow medal with Geelong and has aged like fine wine.
More recently, Geelong plucked Ollie Henry from Collingwood's grasp, and Bailey Smith from the Bulldogs, after the former was homesick and the latter was disgruntled by being played out of position.
The outlandish trade moves not only have been pulled off, but they've paid dividends in Geelong's success, with the Cats missing the finals just three times since 2005.
Geelong won't relent in their bold list-building strategy either, with Suns star Matthew Rowell meeting with the Cats last October as he enters free agency this season, while Ugle-Hagan could be next on the radar.
The Bulldogs forward has been granted flexible training arrangements as he overcomes personal issues outside of football, however, it leaves his position at the club in jeopardy.
Potential suitors are undoubtedly queueing up for his talents, with the former Pick 1 a game-changing key player.
Scott did not shy away from that fact and let it be known that Geelong would talk with Ugle-Hagan and his management if they thought he could be a good fit for the football club.
"I always give the same answer to this: we consider everything, and we're really open to having dangerous conversations," Scott told Footy Classified on Tuesday.
"I think we've got to the point now where if people want to criticise us for considering things we'll wear it.
"Now just because we talk about it doesn't mean we're going to do it necessarily, they're challenging situations because everyone sees the talent. We wouldn't be talking about this if he (Ugle-Hagan) wasn't such a talented young player.
"In a really competitive environment, your salary cap is one of the key markers, and so when you're playing someone a lot of money to not play, you kind of want them to be doing everything they can to get back on the park."
Another key forward to pair alongside Jeremy Cameron would be a scary prospect for opposition AFL clubs, however the Cats do already boast an emerging talent in Shannon Neale.
Interstate clubs such as Sydney and Brisbane have also been rumoured to be considering a trade for Ugle-Hagan, as a life outside of the Victorian football sphere could alleviate the pressure that comes with playing in an AFL-dominant state.
Both the Swans and Lions are in need of a key forward too, with Sydney lacking a major target since Lance Franklin's retirement, and Brisbane looking to fill the hole of Joe Daniher after he hung up the boots.
