“Good luck…”: Questions raised over Brisbane’s reported play for West Coast skipper

How can Brisbane even think about fitting Oscar Allen into its salary cap?

That is the most pressing question on the mind of Kane Cornes after it was reported that the reigning premiers were making a play for West Coast’s co-captain.

AFL Media’s Cal Twomey reported on Wednesday that the Lions had already spoken to Allen who enters free agency in 2025.

But Cornes cannot quite work out how the Lions, who have a number of key players locked away for the long-term, would be able to fit the wages of a 25-year-old key forward safely on their books.

Cornes pondered on SEN Breakfast: “How can Brisbane fit Oscar Allen into their salary cap?

“This is the reason that frustrates me with player wages not becoming public because of the skepticism that comes with a link to Oscar Allen like this.

“I physically can’t work out how they could fit him into the salary cap.

“Look at it: Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich, Jack Payne has a long-term deal, Hugh McCluggage has got a multi-million dollar long-term deal, Eric Hipwood has got the same, they’ve just signed Cam Rayner, they’ve got Lachie Neale on huge money, they’ve got Josh Dunkley on big money, they’re going to have to pay Will Ashcroft when his first contract expires, they’ve got Logan Morris who is going to need a pay increase, they’ve got Oscar McInerney who is one of the best ruckmen in the game, they’ve got younger players coming through in Jaspa Fletcher and Levi Ashcroft.

“Even Tom Doedee got a five-year deal to go there. He’s not going to go for peanuts.

“It would absolutely blow my mind that Brisbane could even consider paying Oscar Allen $1.2-1.3 million, which he’s going to get, and fit him into the salary cap.

“How could they even contemplate this?

“It’s unhealthy that Geelong have been linked to Matt Rowell and then the speculation starts. Wouldn’t it be far easier if we could see where it all fits into the salary cap and that alleviates any of the angst.

“There is not for one second that I believe Brisbane could fit Oscar Allen into the salary cap.”

Co-host Sam Edmund does not believe the Lions would be making any careless moves given the AFL polices a clear and distinct salary cap figure which is set at $7.675 million in 2025.

“We don’t need to spend any time getting caught up on it because obviously they can (fit him in),” Edmund said.

“Joe Daniher is off the books, Dayne Zorko and Darcy Gardiner are going to retire soon, there’s going to be countless other retirements.

“The one benefit with long-term contracts is you can shuffle the money around. They can move contracts back, move them forward, front-end Oscar Allen, back-end others.

“Have you got no faith in the AFL that they would tick it?”

Cornes firmly believes there is a detrimental effect on outsiders being left in the cold when it comes to player wages.

That scenario would make it clearer for everyone to see how a club like the Lions, with plenty of stars on their books, can afford a player like Allen.

“It’s just unhealthy that is our initial thought,” he added.

“I’m not suggesting anyone is dumb enough to cheat the salary cap.

“It’s not a matter of trust, but I just go, ‘How does this team have the same salary cap that St Kilda has?’.

“100 per cent (they do), but I would like the information as to, ‘Ok, how has this team managed it so well? And how is my team managing it so poorly?’

“I don’t see any disadvantage to making the wages public so we can see how Brisbane have even got the audacity to try and fit Oscar Allen in.

“Good luck fitting McCluggage, Rayner, Andrews, Cameron, Doedee, Ashcroft, Neale, Berry in with Oscar Allen. They’re the names that are going to make a difference.”

Listen to the full chat below: