Collingwood run-with player Ed Allan is keen to remain at the Pies next year, although he admits no deal has been put to him.
Allan is one of the few exciting young talents who have emerged this year after struggling to cement a role in the senior side due to the chorus of experienced players.
But his form this year has warranted a deal beyond 2026, playing an equal career-high 13 games (to date) as a pivotal role player in the team.
“There is nothing in front of me at the moment, but hopefully if I play good enough football, it will take care of itself,” Allan said to the Herald Sun.
“I'm leaving it all up to my manager, David Trotter, to deal with that … hopefully we can get something sorted.
“I haven't had any chats internally (at Collingwood). I will just leave it up to him (Trotter). I'm texting him a fair bit to try and get it all sorted out.”
Allan struggled to lock down a prominent midfield role, and was unable to make a consistent impact on the wing when he received senior opportunities in the past two seasons.
But a look into a tagging role, which has the speedy West Australian tasked with curbing the influences of Isaac Heeney, Zak Butters, Kysaiah Pickett, Tim Taranto, Noah Anderson, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Sam Walsh, has revived his career.
The idea came from midfield coach and former Western Bulldog Matthew Boyd, and it has paid dividends.
“It was more around helping to get me around the ball a bit more and playing to my strengths," Allan said.
“Obviously the good players get the ball a bit, and I knew if I could follow them around, then hopefully I could work off them as well.
"They've all been different. Everyone has a different skill set. Kozzy likes to run on the outside, then Patty Cripps and Sam Walsh like to use their size and their running capabilities.
“I'd never done it before. But it's been fun coming up against the best players in the comp each week. Every week you look to the next team, and they've all got stars.
“All the midfielders have got around me. ‘Whisper' (Nick Daicos) has been great for me, helping me out, and he's given me confidence."
Allan is earmarked for another role on Thursday when the Pies head to South Australia to face Adelaide in front of a hostile crowd.
McRae put on the agenda Jordan Dawson or Izak Rankine during Tuesday's press conference
