Oscar Allen: Brisbane won’t be able to afford poaching West Coast Eagles skipper, according to Kane Cornes
Brisbane’s pursuit of Oscar Allen will be futile, according to Seven analyst Kane Cornes, with the reigning premiers set to struggle to fork out enough money to pay the West Coast skipper.
The Lions this week became the latest club linked to a chase for Allen ahead of him becoming a restricted free agent at season’s end, with the Eagle touted as a potential replacement for retired spearhead Joe Daniher.
The 25-year-old is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal at West Coast, despite the WA club being understood to have offered a six-year contract.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.But Cornes said Brisbane was one rival club the Eagles wouldn’t have to worry about, arguing a salary cap squeeze would push them out of the running for Allen’s services.
“Look at it: Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich, Jack Payne have long-term deals, Hugh McCluggage has got a multi-million dollar long-term deal, Eric Hipwood has got the same,” Cornes said on SEN.
‘”They’ve just signed Cam Rayner, they’ve got Lachie Neale on huge money, they’ve got Josh Dunkley on big money, they’re going to have to pay Will Ashcroft when his first contract expires. They’ve got Logan Morris who is going to need a pay increase, they’ve got Oscar McInerney who is one of the best ruckmen in the game, and they’ve got younger players coming through in Jaspa Fletcher and Levi Ashcroft.
“Even Tom Doedee got a five-year deal to go there. He’s not going to go for peanuts.
“It would absolutely blow my mind that Brisbane could even consider paying Oscar Allen $1.2 to 1.3 million, which he’s going to get, and fit him into the salary cap.
“How could they even contemplate this?
“There is not for one second that I believe Brisbane could fit Oscar Allen into the salary cap.”
Allen is considered a key pillar of West Coast’s rebuild, with the spearhead underlining his value with a superb 53-goal campaign in a three-win side in 2023.
He added 20 goals in 11 appearances last year after missing virtually the entire first half of the year due to a knee injury.
