West Coast find themselves in a rather peculiar position at the moment, as it appears more beneficial for them not to have their captain, Oscar Allen, play for the rest of the season.
This sentiment is echoed by Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd, who suggests that this course of action would serve the best interests of all parties involved.
The 26-year-old Allen will be a free agent at the end of the season and has been heavily linked to a potential move to Brisbane.
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Oscar Allen leading West Coast onto the field. Getty
This situation might not be catastrophic for the Eagles, particularly since they’re likely in line to receive a band one compensation pick. According to Nine’s senior AFL correspondent Tom Morris, Allen has been offered a lucrative six-year deal by the Lions, potentially valued at $1 million annually.
A band one compensation pick would secure West Coast a first-round draft pick immediately following their existing selection. Currently, two games behind the last-placed team on the ladder, this positioning would grant them pick two.
However, the injury-plagued Allen suffered yet another setback in round 14, sustaining a non-contact leg injury during the loss to Carlton which initially seemed like it could end his season.
Fortunately, it has now been confirmed that he sustained only minor damage to his Achilles and a calf strain, which is expected to see him sidelined for the medium term.
Throughout his seven years at West Coast, Allen has only managed to play 20 games in a season on three occasions, with injuries consistently impacting his availability.
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If the skipper were to make a return this season and sustain a more serious leg injury, it would undoubtedly impact the value of any contract he may receive from Brisbane or other interested teams.
The AFL compensation picks are determined by the value and duration of the contract offered, yet the specifics of this system remain undisclosed.
Oscar Allen being carried off the field. AFL Photos via Getty Images
It seems increasingly likely that Allen will depart, especially given his strong connections to Brisbane and an early-season meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.
West Coast is in dire need of premium young talent, and securing the top two picks in this year’s draft would be an ideal outcome for them. Given their current position, they likely won’t be too disheartened at the thought of losing him.
With no realistic chance of reaching the finals and sitting two games behind Richmond in 17th place, one could argue that Allen’s return—if it were to happen—would not significantly alter their trajectory for the rest of the season.
In light of all these factors, Lloyd asserts that the decision is fairly straightforward for the club.
“I would be sitting him for the remainder of the year,” Lloyd expressed on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He’ll be eager to return because he’s had an incredibly challenging time. It’s a matter of whether his manager will get involved and whether everyone can agree that not returning is the best course of action.”
However, Melbourne great Garry Lyon has a different viewpoint.
“If there’s ever been a situation where a club needed their captain more than West Coast does right now, then I haven’t witnessed it,” Lyon stated on SEN.
“Focus on your recovery, show up at the club first thing in the morning, and be the last to leave. Put in the hard yards to help the club improve.”
Having a star player told to sit out the season to safeguard their trade value is almost unprecedented in the AFL. The most similar case was when Carlton did this with defender Lachie Henderson in 2015 after he communicated his desire to play for Geelong at season’s end.
Lachie Henderson played 102 games for Carlton before seeking a trade to Geelong. Getty
“It was made abundantly clear that I needed to leave the club (after the trade request),” Henderson revealed to SEN earlier this month.
“It felt like a dismissal, ‘We’re over this. Goodbye. Nothing else matters’.”
However, this action by the Blues was taken in the final month of the season.
Allen and West Coast still have ten games to contend with, and the possibility of securing pick two hangs in the balance if anything were to go awry.
Picking two would represent the highest free agency compensation pick ever awarded by the AFL.
“They’d almost drive him to the airport if it meant acquiring pick two,” Lloyd remarked.
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