West Coast young gun Oscar Allen is in ship shape for 2023 after making an early return to pre-season last year, with the Eagles forward eyeing a Round 1 spot following a year on the sidelines.
Allen suffered a foot injury prior to last season's commencement and would eventually miss the entire 2022 season with the ailment as the club put the 23-year-old on ice by May.
In his long road to recovery, Allen decided to hit the training track a month out from the Eagles' official pre-season start, hoping to get himself primed for what will be his sixth season in the blue and gold.
Now recording personal bests at training ahead of his side's first session of the new year, Allen has put in the work to be in the frame for a strong season after months on the sidelines.
Speaking to The West Australian, Allen's manager Andrew McDougall said his client is "100 per cent" ready for the season ahead.
“He went back four weeks early and worked really heavily with the physios, putting in the extra hard yards before the pre-season actually started,” McDougall said.
“He did that to make sure his body was 100 per cent going into the pre-season and for the year ahead.”
Allen looms as the Eagles' prized asset after booting 66 goals in his past three seasons, with coach Adam Simpson sure to be hopeful he can slot into the void left retirement of all-time club leading goalkicker Josh Kennedy.
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McDougall believes Allen can be among the top echelon of key forwards in the competition, with his aerial abilities and sharp eye for goal among his many shining traits.
“I believe he can be one of the best forwards in the AFL, if he isn't already at the moment,” McDougall said.
“He just needs a good run at it.”
Allen was awarded with the Chris Mainwaring Medal in 2022 as the Eagles' best clubman, looking to pitch in where possible from the sidelines after being added to the club's leadership group last pre-season.
The Whitford product revealed despite the setback from the injury, he was able to learn more about the group and football from a new angle.
“In the leadership sense I grew a lot," he told Eagles Media.
"I had to figure out different ways to try and communicate with the playing group and probably became a little bit more understanding of what it takes to become a successful football club.
“I had a lot of great conversations with coaches and some of the senior players and really understood a little bit more about what goes into being a good side on game day, rather than just training hard. All the little things that come with it.”
Should Allen be deemed fit to return to the senior side for Round 1, he'll line up against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, March 18.
