West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen has conceded that negotiations over a new deal with the Eagles have stalled, leaving his future in limbo as the AFL season draws to a close.
The 26-year-old, sidelined since June following knee surgery, confirmed discussions with the club had “broken down”, sparking speculation he could leave Perth when his contract expires in October.
MORE: Charlie Curnow 'perfect' for Sydney Swans, claims AFL legend
Allen has been linked with moves to both Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions, with his restricted free agent status adding a layer of intrigue to the situation.
“A lot of water to go under the bridge”
Speaking on Perth radio station Mix 94.5, Allen said: “Contracts go through until the end of October, and that’s when the free agency period starts, so there’s still six weeks for myself and the club to have communication or to agree with the deal elsewhere.”
“Probably another, I suppose, complex way to it is I’m a restricted free agent, so what that means is, whatever contract, if I was to accept the contract elsewhere, West Coast has the right to match that contract as well. So there’s still a lot of water that can go under the bridge,” he added.
MORE: Adelaide's Snoop Dogg defence for Izak Rankine homophobic slur case
Allen admitted negotiations had “kind of broken down to a certain extent” and insisted he was no clearer on where he would play next year. “People think I’m lying to them when I say I’m not sure what’s going on. We’re genuinely still trying to figure things out,” he added.
Coach Andrew McQualter attempted to shut down exit talk on Thursday, stressing Allen remained a “required player” despite the Eagles set to finish bottom of the ladder this weekend.