AFL Captains React: ‘I’d Make the Same Choice’ in Oscar Allen Controversy

Hawthorn’s captain, James Sicily, described the recent news surrounding Oscar Allen as nothing more than a ‘storm in a teacup’ following the West Coast skipper’s press conference on Thursday, where he expressed his regrets.

After the Hawks’ derby defeat against Fremantle, Allen had a meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell on Monday, with many media outlets scrutinising him for his responsibilities as the leader of the club.

Sicily, who would undoubtedly welcome Allen joining Hawthorn, stated that it would be ‘poor business’ if the 26-year-old didn’t consider all his options.

“To be honest, I think it’s a bit of a storm in a teacup, but that’s just the nature of the current business,” Sicily told reporters on Friday.

“From what I understand, he’s a restricted free agent. If an offer comes in, he has the right to accept it. There’s no unwritten rule that says he can’t just because he’s the captain,” he explained.

“I’m speaking generally – not specifically about Oscar’s situation – and it would be poor business for someone not to explore what’s available to them.

“Personally, I don’t see it as an issue; I guess that’s my modern perspective. I think it’d be unwise not to investigate what’s out there.

“Would I do the same if I were in his shoes? Absolutely.”

Sicily would certainly relish the opportunity for Allen to join the Hawks in the summer.

“Would I love Oscar to come aboard? Would I welcome any player who could help us win? Absolutely,” he remarked.

“Having quality players increases our chances of success, and I’m not naive enough to think we won’t face similar circumstances in the future.

“We’ve got a number of young talents performing well, and they’ll likely find themselves in a similar situation.

“They may receive offers that could be 25 to 30 per cent higher than what we can provide.

“That then brings up the need for reflection: ‘What are we doing? How can we retain these guys?'”

Melbourne captain Max Gawn echoed a similar sentiment, suggesting that Allen would remain fully committed to the Eagles, even while considering his contract situation outside of club hours.

“We’re all adults now. You can guess my direction on this – Oscar can do as he pleases,” Gawn told Triple M.

“We signed Steven May from Gold Coast while he was still captain there. Angus Brayshaw, who was vice-captain, only made his decision right in September, yet was still attending leadership meetings.

“He made a point to leave his personal negotiations outside the club by 9am, arriving to be the best teammate he could be for us. Then, his manager might call him at 5pm to say, ‘they’ve improved the offer.’ It’s all part of the game; everyone is simply trying to secure the best deal for their future.”

“This situation could simply be a way for him to negotiate a better deal with West Coast.”