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Live sport on SN this weekendCornes loving midfield apprenticeship McRae is giving emerging Magpie
Lachlan Geleit • July 24th, 2026 1:06 pm
Collingwood midfielder Ed Allan is starting to emerge as a real player in the back half of the 2026 season.
The 22-year-old former first-round pick previously struggled to find his place in Collingwood’s senior side across his first 20 games at the level, but has now found a niche as the Magpies’ main midfield stopper.
Playing on the opposition’s best on-ballers, Allan is both keeping his direct matchup quiet while hurting teams the other way with his elite speed and burst around stoppages.
That came to the fore in Thursday’s massive win against Adelaide as he held Jordan Dawson to just five second-half touches, while picking up 10 himself in that period to go with two huge last-quarter goals and six score involvements.
Allan has always been a prospect with a seemingly high ceiling due to his size and athletic traits, and Kane Cornes thinks getting his apprenticeship in this role could give the Magpie the base to go on and become a quality midfielder once he’s learned from the best.
He discussed the young Magpie’s impact with David King on SEN Fireball.
Cornes: “They had some moments from these young players. I question the quality of the young players coming through, but they're giving opportunities, and they did things last night.
“We saw Ed Allan late. He lit up for about three minutes late where he kicked a couple of goals.”
King: “He did more than that.”
Cornes: “No, I know, but he didn't have his best night last night at all.”
King: “I thought he was pretty good.”
Cornes: “I thought late he was great, but I didn't think it was his best night for the majority of it.
“But he's got attributes that you think, ‘Okay, well, he's got speed, he's clearly switched on, he's got penetration, and he has the attributes that suit modern footy’.
“Then he's gone and had a four-minute period where he had about six touches and kicked two goals, and you go, ‘Woah, here we go’.”
King: “I'll tell you what has happened with him. He hasn't been missed by the coach.
“This week it's Dawson, last week it's (Sam) Walsh, it’s been Noah Anderson and Tim Taranto. He’s playing on the best opposition player every week.”
Cornes: “It's the best apprenticeship you can get. That's how Caleb Serong started, that’s how Touk Miller started.
“Then you move on, and you learn the defensive accountability side of it, so I love the way that they've been using him.”
Allan, who is currently out of contract, will be a player the Magpies hope to lock in before the 2026 season wraps up.
