Oscar Allen’s trade saga takes bombshell turn as new club emerges

The ongoing speculation surrounding the future of West Coast captain Oscar Allen has reached new heights with a frontrunner emerging.

Oscar Allen’s future has reportedly become a two-horse race with the reigning premiers the new frontrunner.

The West Coast skipper was linked with a move to Hawthorn following a secret meeting with coach Sam Mitchell.

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Allen’s meeting with the Hawks coach caused major unrest at the Eagles, but it now appears a move to Victoria isn’t even on the cards.

On Tuesday night it was reported the 26-year-old has his eyes set on a move to Queensland to join the Brisbane Lions.

However there is still plenty left to play out until the end of the year when his current contract expires.

“What I can tell you tonight is as it stands, Oscar Allen wants to play for the Brisbane Lions next year,” Tom Morris said on Channel 9’s Gather Round special.

“So he’s clearly out of contract at the end of the year. He’s a free agent and there’s three reasons why he wants to play for the Brisbane Lions next year.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Liam Duggan (left) and Oscar Allen of the Eagles look dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFL Round 24 match between the Geelong Cats and the West Coast Eagles at GMHBA Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“The long term contract is one. The security of that, six plus years set his family up for life.

“Another reason is the fact they’re in the premiership window, he’s keen to play for a club that can win a flag next year.

“And the second and the third reason is the prospect of the Brisbane Lions fixing his body. He’s had issues with his knee and they’ve done that before, haven’t they? With Lincoln McCarthy with Callum Achee and of course with Joe Daniher.

“So this is one to watch. It could potentially change before the end of the year. But if the season finished now, Oscar Allen would move to the Brisbane Lions as a free agent.”

With the Lions emerging as the new landing spot, questions were raised surrounding his links with Hawthorn.

Morris however stated the two parties were never heavily invested, the meeting was more of a feeling out process.

“He was never hot on Hawthorn. And they were never red hot on him. They scoped each other out, as did Melb and Coll. Brisbane have been on it since October,” Morris wrote on X.

Oscar Allen fronted the media after his meeting with the Hawks.

Allen’s meeting with Hawthorn sparked fierce backlash, but Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley told news.com.au he doesn’t blame the Eagles forward for sussing out his options but said his decision to meet Mitchell was careless.

“As a player, this is where having a good manager is really important,” Buckley told news.com.au.

“I don’t think meeting with an opposition manager around 3pm is a great idea for anyone let alone a captain.

“And that’s where the manager sort of becomes the stop gap between Oscar Allen, the West Coast captain focusing on his footy and what he has got to do now, and the Oscar Allen who is exploring his options and opportunities for the remainder of his career.

Allen’s future is the talk of the town. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“An AFL career is finite it isn’t going to last forever so I don’t begrudge Oscar or Hawthorn for meeting, it is just the fact that it becomes public that is tough on everyone.

“It’s tough on West Coast, on Oscar, on Sam Mitchell and Hawthorn and will create questions in the locker room around his commitment.

“I think there’s so much noise and innuendo that doesn’t need to come out at this stage of any campaign. So that’s why you can’t do it, you just can’t afford for it to happen.

“It’s a real slip up and it’s not to say it doesn’t happen. It should happen as players are entitled to consider their futures but it is how it happens and how public it is that matters and when players aren’t careful that’s where the trouble is.”