The former No.1 draft pick's three goals on Sunday night helped the Suns to their first home win over GWS in 12 years with their 11.17 (83) to 8.15 (63) triumph.
Seriously troubled during his final year with the Western Bulldogs, Ugle-Hagan has made an immediate impact in his first two games with Gold Coast.
The 24-year-old kicked two goals in a third-quarter blitz during the low-scoring contest, also adding the matchwinner late on for his third of the night.
"He probably had a little bit of an indifferent first half, but he's got to keep showing up, and eventually big moments come and he delivered," Hardwick said.
"That goal was quite special, I don't think there'd be many players in the AFL his size that can do that.
"We're very fortunate to have a player that's capable of doing that.
"What we've realised, it's his second game for the club.
"He's only going to get better and better, he'll get fitter, he'll get stronger, he'll get a greater understanding of how we want to play.
"Hopefully he sees the player that we see in him."
After losing three of their last four games, the Suns turned a corner and moved to fifth with a 5-3 record ahead of two games in Darwin.
Hardwick described Matt Rowell as probable to face St Kilda on Saturday night after the Brownlow medallist missed the clash with the Giants due to an ankle injury.
"He's a tough kid ... he'll give himself his best chance," Hardwick said of Rowell.
"But we've got to be mindful sometimes that we've got to look after the players long term interest."
19°C