Player Watch Ed Allan

[Rorzza]

A great opportunity for Ed to take control in the middle against a weaker midfield.

Should he get increased midfield minutes, he needs to grab the opportunity with both hands and really prove himself.

WC midfield ain't weak, they are quite good and ripped GWS a new one last week at home..... Harley Reid in front of 90k, can't wait!

 

[sr36]

We do:

• Frampton: keep
• Crisp: keep
• Pendlebury: keep
• Saxena: keep
• Howes: keep
• Howe: likely retire
• Sidebottom: likely retire
• Sullivan: delist
• Smit: likely delist
• Ryan: likely delist
• Cochran: ?
• Membrey: retire
• Parker: ?
• Allan: ?

Allan is one of a few young players who are in a bit of limbo. Not as young or new to the list as the likes of Cochran, but showing more than the likes of Ryan.

He’s not a consistent part of the team, doesn’t have a fixed position, has been on the list for ages and hasn’t had a real breakout game where he looks at home at the level. There’s project types, and then there are those who never come on.

Plus we will probably add two more in the MSD - and we've never cut a MSD kid straight away.

I understand that Lachie Neale is a polarising figure. The moral concern is ultimately subjective. Some supporters will simply not want him regardless of football output, and clubs absolutely factor culture and leadership into decisions. But AFL history is full of clubs tolerating imperfect personalities when the football value is high enough. Whether that is right or wrong is a separate ethical debate.

However elite AFL footballers don’t become available too often.

The other criticism is that he is too old. What would have happened if we had cut Pendlebury off at age 33 (in 2 days)? Lachie Neale’s 2026 season has been elite. Through 10 games he is averaging 30.6 disposals, 15.4 kicks and 15.2 handballs, plus 6.3 marks, 5 inside 50s, 7.1 clearances, 371 mg & 23 score involvements.

Since the start of 2022, his durability has been elite too: 109 games from 115 (obtained from Wheelo), including 25 in 2022, 26 in 2023, 26 in 2024, 22 in 2025 and 10 so far in 2026.

Neale’s profile is still “game-driving midfielder”, not “aging accumulator.” The metres gained and score involvement numbers are especially important because they confirm he is still impacting territory and attack, not merely padding possessions.

His 109 games from a possible 115 since 2022 as an inside mid is elite availability. Availability is value. If we could get 22–24 high-level games plus finals from Neale over 1–2 seasons, that is enormously useful for our developing midfield group. A 1–2 year acquisition of a still-elite player is not a rebuild mistake.

The recruitment of Neale turned that club around from a basket case and got them headed towards the success they've achieved. There's nothing to suggest that he is a character that has a negative impact on a footy club's culture.

 

[satty]

WC midfield ain't weak, they are quite good and ripped GWS a new one last week at home..... Harley Reid in front of 90k, can't wait!

I said weaker not weak, by which I meant them being weaker relative to the swans midfield .

 

[Roverjg]

Plus we will probably add two more in the MSD - and we've never cut a MSD kid straight away.

The recruitment of Neale turned that club around from a basket case and got them headed towards the success they've achieved. There's nothing to suggest that he is a character that has a negative impact on a footy club's culture.

I agree 100%. I was commenting in response to multiple comments who stated they didn't want him in part because he is morally lacking"

 

[sr36]

I said weaker not weak, by which I meant them being weaker relative to the swans midfield .

Their young ruck is going really well andYeo, Kelly and Reid is strong. They're likely to outplay us around stoppage.

 

[gouki88]

Their young ruck is going really well andYeo, Kelly and Reid is strong. They're likely to outplay us around stoppage.

Bit of a nitpick but Williams isn't really young - same age as IQ, so should be in his prime

 

[Dtennent94]

I sense this will be Ed's breakout game. Big crowd. Bottom team. Decent form.

He may also want to impress his future employer.

 

[satty]

Yea.....

He isn't it.

 

[whiskeytown]

Past players would envy the opportunity Allan keeps getting… and floundering

 

[Tista7000]

Liked his efforts in first qtr and his goal in the 2nd.

Only had 60% game time but barley saw him on the field in 2nd half.

Persist a couple games more and drop Long

 

[hellfire]

One thing I loved about his game today is that he stuck his tackles. He looked much stronger and forced a few stoppages at important moments.

Game high 32 pressure acts, too.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Stunk it up again

 

[footballsack35]

I thought he did a good job on Harley reid

 

[Rorzza]

Did he attend any CBA's, if so it would have been a small number. It looked like Ed was playing some role forward. My mind boggles.

 

[footballsack35]

I thought he attended a few

 

[Eric Shin]

Gee some of us are harsh. He wasn’t as bad as some people are saying.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

“Too old” is such a hilarious thing to say given how much value Pendlebury has provided us at a much older age. How can you ignore the value adding a Brownlow medallist would have? All our young mids have raved about the value of bouncing ideas off and learning from veterans, yet it wouldn’t add anything to our long term development?

It could also put us close to a flag next year. Going outright all time #1 means a bit

A flag. Kidding right?

We are years away from a flag

 

[Rorzza]

No he wasn't bad at all, only played 60% again and didn't see alot of CBA time which is disappointing especially in the second half and as previously mentioned by others seemed to pick up Harley a fair bit.

 

[legendstatus]

I thought he attended a few

Good to see another Gary Numan fan - legend

 

[TradeDraft]

Gee some of us are harsh. He wasn’t as bad as some people are saying.

Was not our Worse Player this evening

 

[DaveoTench]

Fantastic job on Reid, hands where a lot cleaner and played a good role. Watch the vision again he gets into good positions when we spread but isn't getting used yet. He is a slow burn we need to keep playing him and it will pay off.

 

[CPH12]

Disposal sheet doesn't look huge, but he was actually pretty good tonight. Last 2 weeks is the first time I've seen him use his strength to stick tackles and break free. Got to keep playing him

 

[SchuPie]

One thing I loved about his game today is that he stuck his tackles. He looked much stronger and forced a few stoppages at important moments.

Game high 32 pressure acts, too.

+1

 

[Harry O]

Was not our Worse Player this

Bruzzy had that well and truly covered

 

[Sea fog]

Fantastic job on Reid, hands where a lot cleaner and played a good role. Watch the vision again he gets into good positions when we spread but isn't getting used yet. He is a slow burn we need to keep playing him and it will pay off.

And is always light on for % of game played showing that Fly may not quite trust him enough yet. He was off at the end. There would be others I would prefer off than him with his good tackling and tank.