$1m twist in pursuit of Eagles skipper; young gun ‘almost too loyal’ as rival circles: Trade Whispers

A key Oscar Allen suitor reportedly isn’t concerned by the key forward’s injury nor form amid a lack of clarity around his latest ailment.

Plus, an in-demand defender may be “too loyal for his own good” and fend off a bigger-money offer from a Victorian rival.

Stay up to date with the latest player movement developments in AFL Trade Whispers!

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ALLEN SUITOR ‘NOT AFRAID’ OF INJURY, FORM ISSUES

The Lions are unperturbed by Oscar Allen’s injury history and form amid a lack of clarification from the Eagles after the key forward went down against Carlton.

Allen, who was for a time played in defence, has kicked 12 goals in 12 games this season after 20 goals from 11 outings last year as he nursed a serious knee injury.

The 26-year-old co-captain, who suffered a calf tendon injury last Sunday and has since been listed by West Coast as ‘medium term’, has missed two games this year after managing just 11 last season.

And while there’s doubt over whether Allen plays again this season — or for the Eagles again — Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph reports Brisbane is unfazed by the key pillar’s setback.

“The Lions aren’t afraid of his injury history or his form,” he said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“They believe that you’d really struggle to get a kick in that West Coast forward line right now.”

Ralph talked through the temptation for the Eagles to let restricted free agent Allen walk to Brisbane in order to net early first-round draft compensation.

“Contrary to popular belief, they (the Lions) don’t have to pay him a million dollars a year to trigger that first-round compensation that, of course, West Coast would want,” he said on Tuesday night.

“Last year, Josh Battle easily triggered first-round compo at about $800,000 a year, guaranteed money. So, I think if you’re the Eagles, you sit back, you let Brisbane eventually give him that deal — if it’s four years at $800,000, OK, off you go, first-round compensation.

“If it’s three years at $700,000, you’re not sure, you match the bid, and all of a sudden, he stays.

“For them (the Eagles), you assess what happens in the next 10 weeks and you make the right decision — you either keep your co-captain, or you get Pick 2.

“And I think everyone would realise that’s a better result than Oscar Allen staying at West Coast.”

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Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said On the Couch on Monday it’d be “irresponsible” to offer Allen more than a two-to-three-year deal due to his injury history.

“It’s the years for me,” Buckley said on Fox Footy. “Six (years) at $800,000 ... what’s his year looked like? What’s his past two or three years looked like?

“It would be irresponsible for anyone to offer anything over a two or three-year deal at anything over $700-750,000, at the moment.

“Because the position that Oscar Allen is in is having to prove ... that he is robust enough physically.

“It doesn’t matter how good you’ve been or how good you could be, you’ve still got to show that you can actually do the work to get up and about — and right now, he hasn’t.

“If you want to take that risk, you need to understand the downside.”

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IN-DEMAND GIANT ‘TOO LOYAL FOR OWN GOOD’?

Out-of-contract GWS defender Leek Aleer, highly-sought-after by St Kilda, might be “too loyal for his own good” despite a long-term lack of senior opportunity.

The 23-year-old Aleer, behind Sam Taylor, Jack Buckley and Connor Idun in the Giants’ key defensive pecking order, has played four consecutive senior matches after finding himself out of favour through the opening 10 weeks of the campaign.

And Ralph says that despite a four-year offer on as much as $900,000 annually from the Saints, Aleer could still opt to re-sign at the Giants out of loyalty to his teammates.

“Leek Aleer is almost too loyal for his own good,” Ralph said on Midweek Tackle.

“St Kilda has offered him four years; it’s big money. Some people have reported as much as $900,000 a year.

“He’s loving playing football. He’s played the past four (senior games), Sam Taylor is out for the next four-to-six weeks with a broken toe.”

While Aleer is now seeing the opportunity he craves, it’s unlikely he’s a mainstay in the first team once Taylor is back healthy.

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“I think those close to him would say ‘that’s great, mate, but what happens if you’re in this situation (sitting behind others) next year, or again you start in the VFL?’” continued Ralph.

“At some stage, there, you’ve got to think of your long-term prospects. He just wants to play footy with his mates, and we love all of those things, as well.

“Given he’s probably going to play 10 (senior games) in a row, I don’t know where this goes. I know where the money is, I know where the tenure is.

“He’s been offered two years at GWS, but can you knock the kid for his loyalty? It’s a great story.”

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