Allen’s first season as co-captain didn’t pan out the way he would have hoped after a knee injury ruined the first half of the 2024 campaign. The Eagles spearhead, coming off a career-best 53-goal year which included a runner-up finish in the John Worsfold Medal, played in the round one defeat to Port Adelaide but wasn’t seen in action again until round 15. Allen built back into touch and was back near his best on the run home, kicking 17 goals across a six-game purple patch which included a match-winning five-goal haul against North Melbourne in Hobart as the Eagles came from the clouds to snatch victory. In his absence, Jake Waterman stood tall to earn All-Australian selection and the Eagles will head into 2025 with confidence in their twin attacking pillars leading a new-look forward line following Jack Darling’s departure.
At a glance: Junior club: Whitfords (WA). Debut: round 13, 2018. Recruited from: West Perth (WA). Brownlow votes: 12.
