'Drive him to the airport': Eagles urged to sit captain out to ensure greatest compensation pick in AFL free agency history
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West Coast are in both an awkward and unique situation right now, given they are seemingly better off not playing their captain Oscar Allen for the remainder of the season.
That is the opinion of Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd, who believes it is in the best interest of everyone involved.
The 26-year-old is a free agent at the end of the season, and has been strongly linked with a move to Brisbane.
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West Coast's Oscar Allen leads his team out onto the field. Getty
This wouldn't necessarily be the worst thing for the Eagles, who appeared set to receive a band one compensation pick, given Allen, according to Nine's chief AFL reporter Tom Morris, had been offered a six-year deal by the Lions, likely on $1m a season.
Band one compensation would net West Coast a first round draft pick immediately after their existing pick. Given they are currently two games clear last on the ladder, that would grant them pick two.
However, the injury prone Allen went down again in round 14, suffering a non-contact leg injury during his side's loss to Carlton, one that at first glance looked like another season ending blow.
Thankfully, it has since been revealed that he only did minor damage to his Achilles, as well as straining his calf, meaning he will only be out in the medium term.
In his seven years at the Eagles, Allen has only played 20 games in a season on three occasions and injuries have hampered him consistently.
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If the skipper returns this season and then suffers a more significant leg injury, that would certainly affect the value of the contract Brisbane, or any other team, would offer him.
And the AFL's compensation picks are determined based on the value of the contract and the years offered, though they have never publicly revealed the machinations of the system.
Oscar Allen carried from the field. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Allen seems likely to leave, given the strong ties to Brisbane and his early-season meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.
The Eagles desperately need top-end young talent, and holding the top two picks in this year's draft is as good as they could possibly hope for. They likely won't be devastated to lose him, given that.
They also have no prospect of playing finals, and sit two games behind Richmond in 17th. Playing or not playing Allen isn't going to tangibly affect their course from here, you would imagine.
With all of that in mind, Lloyd says it is a simple decision for the club to make.
"I would be (sitting him the rest of the year)," Lloyd told Nine's Footy Classified.
"He'll want to get back because he's just had a horror time of it. It depends on whether his manager gets involved and the parties all get together and say 'this is best for all of us, for you not to come back and play'."
Melbourne champion Garry Lyon disagrees with Lloyd, however.
"If ever a club needs their captain more than the West Coast Eagles right now, then I haven't seen it," Lyon told SEN.
"Do what you need to do to rehab your (injury), get to that club as first there in the morning, and last to leave. Work your absolute backside off to try and help the club get better."
A star player being told to sit out the remainder of the season to preserve their trade value and because they've requested a move out is borderline unprecedented in the AFL landscape.
Carlton did this with defender Lachie Henderson in 2015, after he told the club he wished to move to Geelong at the end of the year.
Lachie Henderson played 102 games for Carlton before requesting a trade to Geelong. Getty
"It was made very clear that what I needed to do was get out of the club (after the trade request)," Henderson told SEN earlier this month.
"But it was like a kick to the curb, 'We're done with you. See you later. Nothing else matters'."
However, that decision from the Blues came in the final month of the season.
Allen and the Eagles still have 10 games to navigate, and the prospect of pick two potentially at stake if something goes wrong.
Pick two would be the highest free agency compensation pick ever dished out by the AFL.
"They'd nearly drive him to the airport (if it meant getting pick two)," Lloyd added.
