Brisbane still remain in the market for West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen despite latest injury setbacks
Oscar Allen's potential season ending injuries have not deterred Brisbane who remain steadfast in their pursuit of the West Coast co-captain.
The Lions are believed to have offered Allen a significant six-year deal which would trigger a band one compensation for the struggling club.
It comes as former coach Adam Simpson labelled the situation around the potential departure of the 26-year-old as 'sad'.
Allen injured his Achilles and calf in the Eagles' defeat to Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday before undergoing minor surgery on his left patella to fix an issue which has plagued him for some time, with the forward unlikely to return this year.
It is believed the Achilles injury just requires six to eight weeks' worth of rest, while the surgery on his knee is about an eight-week recovery, meaning Allen is unlikely to play again this season and may have suited up for the Eagles for the final time.
Brisbane has long been reported to have a bigger offer on the table for the forward than the Eagles, who would likely get band-one compensation if the restricted free agent leaves the club.
If West Coast remain at the bottom of the ladder, this would give them the first two picks in what is set to be a heavily compromised draft with several top academy selections.
While the Lions are front-runners to land Allen, Hawthorn are also in the market with coach Sam Mitchell's meeting with the forward while in Perth making headlines earlier this year.
The reigning premiers are in need of a forward to replace star Joe Daniher, who retired after last year's grand final victory.
It is part of a turbulent season for the prodigious talent, who was forced to head into defence after struggling for form early in the year before kicking four goals in a competitive loss to Geelong in round 12.
Allen is in his second year as co-captain alongside premiership defender Liam Duggan and has played 105 games since he was drafted with pick No.21 in 2017 out of West Perth.
Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said Allen was 'the last player' who would leave the Eagles.
'Oscar hasn't checked out … he loves the club. He's the last player that I thought would leave West Coast. By a mile,' Simpson told SEN.
'He grew up in WA, a passionate West Coast supporter, captain – whatever it takes to help the club.
'When I left that was him, so to go from that to this, it's been really disappointing from all fronts.
'Not being part of it I haven't seen contract negotiations, I haven't seen his body for 12 months but just the fact that his season's cut short, and it looks like he might head somewhere else, it's sad.'
The exposure of Allen's meeting with Mitchell led to the forward missing the Eagles' round six loss to Essendon, as well as a press conference alongside football boss John Worsfold which drew criticism from Simpson.
'That was poor … I don't think they read the cues well at all the club in terms of what was needed to be done with that,' he said.
West Coast are also without last year's leading goalkicker and All-Australian forward Jake Waterman to a season-ending shoulder surgery, leaving them with an inexperienced forward line to be led by 38-gamer Jack Williams.
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