West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen has all but been ruled out of the remainder of the 2025 season after a serious injury to his calf and Achilles.
In the loss to Carlton, Allen can be seen running before falling to the ground without any apparent contact or change in direction, raising concerns.
Despite the club initially being hopeful it wasn't serious, GM of Football Gavin Bell confirmed the worst, saying that after consultation with specialists in recent days, the Eagles will take the opportunity to undergo patella tendon surgery.
"Oscar has been dealing with some knee soreness related to his patella tendon and, after we gathered more information that he was unlikely to return this season due to his calf/Achilles injury, the decision was made by Oscar and the Club for him to undergo surgery today," Bell said on Thursday.
"By undergoing surgery as soon as possible, it allows Oscar the maximum rehabilitation period to be ready for pre-season training."
However, the intrigue now surrounds what Allen's 2026 will look like, as he weighs up a move away from the rebuilding Western Australian club.
Brisbane has a heavily vested interest in luring the 26-year-old to Queensland in a bid to help replace the void left by premiership hero Joe Daniher.
Hawthorn is in the market for a key forward, as Allen was caught earlier in the season catching up with Sam Mitchell.
To date, Allen has played 105 games for the Eagles since being taken with Pick 21 in the 2017 National Draft.
He reached the peak of his powers in 2023 when he kicked 53 goals in the three-win side, showcasing his immense talent both in the air and on the ground.
However, the past two years have seen Allen downed by multiple injuries that have limited his output, adding only another 23 matches to his tally.
