Collingwood finally in contract talks with improving young gun

Collingwood are in contract discussions with fourth-year midfielder Ed Allan, in what is the first confirmation that the Magpies are keen to retain the out-of-contract onballer.

The Magpies had delayed contract talks with Allan’s management until very recently, with the 22-year-old midfielder having spent almost the duration of the season without a contract in front of him.

Collingwood’s willingness to offer Allan a deal follows his significant improvement since he was shifted to the midfield – he had often been deployed on a wing previously – and given the responsibility of tagging the opposition’s prime movers.

Allan was successful in curbing Adelaide gun Jordan Dawson in Collingwood’s upset of the Crows two rounds back, when the Magpies surmounted a 27-point deficit to run over the home side. Allan booted two important goals and smothered the Adelaide skipper in the second half.

The West Australian, the son of ex-Hawthorn and Fremantle star Ben Allan, restricted North gun Luke Davies-Uniacke in round 18 in a narrow victory and has been matched to Melbourne superstar Kysaiah Pickett and Richmond’s premier midfielder Tim Taranto since he assumed midfield tagging duties.

Allan, drafted by the Magpies with their first choice in the 2022 national draft (pick No.19), is 194 centimetres – close to the same size as Carlton great Patrick Cripps – and possesses a turn of speed. Until his deployment as a tagger, however, he had struggled for both midfield minutes and consistent impact.

While there has been speculation about interest from WA, Allan had not been a recruiting target for his opponents this weekend, the Eagles. He is a chance to be matched against 2023 No.1 pick Harley Reid this Sunday.

Allan has played 15 games at senior level this year, for a career tally of 30. He has just been selected in the AFL Players’ Association’s team of the best players aged 22 and under.

Collingwood are facing major list management calls after this season, with super veterans Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury still to announce their intentions, though Sidebottom is expected to retire, and defender Jeremy Howe, 36, will be offered a contract.

The Magpies are favourites to sign dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale as a free agent, as Neale ponders his likely exit from the Brisbane Lions. They are one of four clubs who have met with Port Adelaide champion Zak Butters, who is expected to leave Port as a free agent and move back to Victoria, but are viewed as outsiders compared with the Bulldogs, Geelong and even Richmond.

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