“We still love him”: Ginbey insists no ill-feeling with Allen

Lachlan Geleit • April 11th, 2025 1:38 pm

West Coast’s Reuben Ginbey has come out in full support of Oscar Allen after a tough period in media headlines for the Eagles co-captain.

Allen fronted the press last week in Perth after it was revealed that he met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell about his future.

READ: “Ashamed”: Allen breaks silence on Hawks meeting.

The 26-year-old is currently weighing up his free agency decision as he comes out of contract at the end of the 2025 season, with both the Hawks and Lions keen to lure the tall forward away from Perth.

While Allen received plenty of feedback in the media after meeting with an opposition coach while captain of an AFL club, Ginbey says that the West Coast playing group is still backing their leader after he discussed his situation openly once it became public.

Like Allen, Ginbey is pretty keen to put the public noise to the side and simply focus on what’s ahead.

“It was pretty bad for us, there was a lot of, I guess, public press about what happened and that kind of thing,” Ginbey told SEN WA Breakfast.

“He chatted to us players about it, he was super open about it and we still love him. We backed him in and want to play with him every week.

“He and (co-captain Liam) Duggan are still leading our club very well, and we’re keen to see him get back to his best footy and kicking goals.

“Hopefully he doesn't have to come to the backline because we need a few more goals.”

In Allen’s address to the media, the skipper said he was ‘remorseful’ and ‘ashamed’, but Ginbey says he teammates hold absolutely no ill-feeling towards their friend and leader.

“I don't think he needs to feel ashamed or anything like that. He's a human and there's a lot more to life than footy,” Ginbey said.

“I think him looking at his options is very normal and I'm sure all gun players do it and have meetings with coaches probably more than you’d think without it coming out as publicly.

“Him having a chat with the guys was great, but I think the feeling of shame was not needed and the boys definitely didn't feel that way.

“We still love him and we love playing with him.”

Allen has been named at full-forward as the winless Eagles go up against fellow winless side Carlton on Saturday afternoon at the Adelaide Oval.

Listen to Ginbey’s full chat with Tim Gossage and Scott Cummings here.