The West Coast Eagles have copped backlash after failing to offer Oscar Allen a new deal, despite putting up the skipper for a grovelling press conference in April, in response to his mid-season meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell. The key forward is off contract at the end of the season and is yet to be offered a new deal by the Eagles, hence why he met with the rival coach.
Allen is eager to sort out his AFL future beyond this season but the way the meeting with Mitchell played out in public saw the West Coast skipper widely criticised. And AFL great Garry Lyon was among those to suggest Allen should have been stripped of the captaincy as a result.
Eagles skipper Oscar Allen (L) has made it clear that he intends to leave West Coast during the October trade period. Pic: Getty
West Coast ultimately backed the skipper to retain his role, and Allen fronted media alongside Eagles footy boss John Worsfold in April to apologise about how the situation unfolded. Allen said he was ‘ashamed’ and ‘incredibly remorseful’ that his meeting with Mitchell had played out in the public domain and accepted that it was a poor look for the club.
But after West Coast’s final round loss to Sydney on Saturday, the 26-year-old informed the Eagles that he wishes to explore his options as a restricted free agent during the upcoming trade period. It comes after Allen revealed last week that talks about an extension with West Coast had ‘broken down’.
The club confirmed on Sunday that Allen had made the request but declined to say whether they would match any potential deal from a rival club. “During a respectful and engaging end of season meeting with our coach Andrew McQualter, Head of Football John Worsfold and myself on Friday, Oscar informed us of his intention to explore free agency,” West Coast Head of List Management and Recruiting, Matt Clarke said.
“As Oscar is a restricted free agent, we retain the right to match any offer made to him by another club and Oscar understands that. We will work through the next steps in this process as they unfold, assess our options and make a considered decision.”
Oscar Allen (R) addressed media alongside West Coast footy boss John Worsfold (L) in April to apologise about his meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell. Pic: West Coast
While the Eagles ultimately have the final say on Allen’s future, Nine’s Tom Morris says he intends to join the Brisbane Lions during the October trade period and Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph says it’s understood the deal is for at least the next five years. But Ralph feels it was ‘ridiculous’ of the Eagles to hold a ‘hostage video press conference’ with Allen after the Mitchell meeting this year, only to fail to offer the captain a new deal.
The Lions offer is at least five years. Maybe five and a trigger for a sixth. West Coast will cash in with pick 2 but it remains ridiculous they paraded Allen for that hostage video press conference after meeting with Sam Mitchell then never offered him an official contract https://t.co/9wWhXik7Cf
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) August 24, 2025
Harley Reid edging closer towards extension at West Coast
Meantime, Harley Reid looks increasingly likely to be staying at West Coast, with SEN’s Sam Edmund reporting that the 20-year-old has told his management only to speak with Eagles officials about his future. West Coast snared Reid with the No.1 draft pick in 2023 but his impressive form has made him a big-money target for rival clubs.
RELATED:
However, Edmund reports that Reid wants to sign a new two-year deal to remain at West Coast, with a trigger that would see him extend for an additional nine years. It’s understood the Eagles are reluctant to include the nine-year trigger in a new deal, but discussions between the two parties are looking promising.
“I think it is moving in a direction that’s positive for West Coast for the last several weeks,” Edmund said on SEN’s Crunch Time. “He (Reid) has instructed his management to deal with just West Coast at the moment. They’re in the cut and thrust of the deal at the moment. Whether it be two (years), four (years)… who knows.”