West Coast are "confident" the club will retain co-captain Oscar Allen amid an expected raid from reigning premiers Brisbane.
Allen - a product from Whitford, Western Australia - is eligible for free agency in 2025 and is expected to fall under the restricted band, which means the Eagles have the ability to match a rival's offer for the key forward.
The 25-year-old has shared the captaincy since the start of last season following his 53-goal 2023 season, with injuries keeping Allen to just 11 games in his first season as skipper.
Spearhead Jake Waterman managed to flourish in his absence to claim a spot in the All-Australian side, with coach Andrew McQualter hoping to have the pair available for the entirety of his first season in charge of West Coast.
This season will also see Allen make a call on his playing future, with an expiring contract leading to rival clubs circling his services.
It has been revealed that Allen is suspected to have met with Brisbane over the off-season as he mulls his career call, with the Lions keen to find a replacement for the retired Joe Daniher.
Despite Brisbane's reported interest, the Eagles aren't losing faith that Allen will recommit to the club soon enough.
"This is what our industry is now with free agency," McQualter toldย Wide World of Sports.ย
"We're really confident (he'll stay). Oscar loves our football club, we love Oscar.
"We're confident something will get done in the not-too-distant future."
Allen has played 93 games for West Coast for a return of 139 goals, with the 196cm attacker a critical piece in McQualter's plans to bring the Eagles back into finals contention.
West Coast also have Rhett Bazzo,ย Tyler Brockman,ย Campbell Chesser,ย Thomas Cole,ย Jamie Cripps,ย Brady Hough,ย Jayden Hunt,ย Jack Hutchinson,ย Tim Kelly, Jeremy McGovern,ย Jack Petruccelle and Dom Sheed, among others, off-contract in 2025, with Cole, Hunt, McGovern, Petruccelle and Sheed joining Allen in being eligible for free agency.