Allen’s comeback from a season ruined by a stress-related foot issue was nothing short of incredible as he stepped into the sizeable shoes vacated by champion spearhead Josh Kennedy and commanded West Coast’s forward line. The blond tall played every game and slotted a personal best 53 majors in a team where supply was hard to come by, on his way to finishing runner-up in the John Worsfold Medal. Allen only failed to kick a goal in one match in 2023, against Carlton in round 19 when he was sent into defence to help curb rampant Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow. Allen finished equal-seventh on the League goalkicking chart and has not only stamped himself as one of the competition’s gun key forwards, but also as a leader of the Eagles’ build back towards finals contention and was duly recognised by being named co-captain alongside Liam Duggan heading into the 2024 campaign.
At a glance: Junior club: Whitfords (WA). Debut: round 13, 2018. Recruited from: West Perth (WA). Brownlow votes: 11.
