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West Coast Eagles co-captain Oscar Allen talks Andrew McQualter, Liam Baker and major changes to club

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Craig O'DonoghueThe West Australian
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VideoChris Robinson explains how the AFL trade period went for Fremantle and West Coast.

West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen admits he’s been spun out by the amount of change at the club in the off-season, saying at times it felt like there was a different announcement every day.

The Eagles have appointed Andrew McQualter as coach and signed John Worsfold as head of football since the end of the season.

They also recruited Adelaide’s Marco Bello as an assistant coach, signed Jamie Maddocks as head of development and brought back premiership captain Shannon Hurn as a development coach.

The trade period brought more significant changes, with key defender Tom Barrass moving to Hawthorn and the Eagles trading out of the top 10 to help bring in Richmond’s Liam Baker and Carlton’s Matt Owies after previously signing Tiger Jack Graham as a free agent.

Matt Owies is now an Eagle.
Camera IconMatt Owies is now an Eagle. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Allen said even he’d found it hard to monitor what was happening during his time off.

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“It’s been an exciting period. I’ve just been away with my partner. I was just making the joke before that every time I woke up, someone had been traded or a new coach had come in,” Allen said while on Seven’s Telethon panel.

“I’m looking forward meeting them all in the next few weeks.”

Allen said he was keen to build on his relationship with Baker after the pair played together at West Perth during 2016.

Baker was drafted to Richmond after impressing during senior footy for Subiaco in 2017, but he began his WAFL career with Allen at the Falcons.

Oscar Allen in action.
Camera IconOscar Allen in action. Credit: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

Baker is one year older than his new captain but they teamed up several times during 2016 when Allen was a bottom aged player.

Allen said it would be fun to start playing with Baker again and see if they could enjoy some success at the Eagles.

“I’ve had a few chats with Liam Baker. We played under-age footy together and I’m looking forward to getting back on the park with him,” he said.

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