12/06/2026
West Coast Eagles wingman Bo Allan happy to play as key defender if called upon in Reuben Ginbey’s absence
Mitchell Woodcock The West Australian
Fri, 12 June 2026 12:33PM
West Coast wingman Bo Allan has put his hand up to help out as a key defender if called upon, as the team looks to cover for the loss of injured star Reuben Ginbey.
The Eagles have been left reeling this week after Ginbey was ruled out until at least late in the season with a serious quad injury, joining 200cm backman Harry Edwards (concussion) on the sidelines.
It has left Andrew McQualter’s side without many options to turn to as they prepare to take on a tall North Melbourne forward line at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
Kangaroos skipper Nick Larkey looms as the most difficult match-up despite a string of poor form, having kicked six goals in their previous meeting in round two of this year, while he has 31 goals in 10 games against the Eagles.
Larkey (198cm) will be joined by former Eagle Jack Darling (191cm), Zane Duursma (190cm), and Cooper Trembath (193cm), as well as the potential resting ruckmen Tristan Xerri (201cm) and debutant Taylor Goad (207cm) in attack.
It has the potential to stretch an undersized Eagles’ backline, with their only other experienced tall back, Sandy Brock, left out of the 23.
It means recruit Tylar Young (196cm) and Rhett Bazzo (195cm) will have to be the main key defenders, while Brandon Starcevich (188cm) and Liam Duggan (186cm) may have to play on bigger men.
However, at 191cm, Allan looms as a potential option to match up on the likes of Darling or Duursma, should he be called upon, a role the 20-year-old played in his draft year at Peel Thunder.
“My versatility is something that helps in my corner and with the lack of Reuben and Harry down there, it’s going to be a huge hole to fill,” Allan told The West Australian.
“I would put my hand up for anything. If I need to play a bit taller at the weekend, I am happy to.
“There’s going to be moments in the game when there might be a spot a little bit deeper to fill, but we’ll see how that pans out.”
Remarkably, West Coast head into the clash against fellow battlers North Melbourne as underdogs despite beating them at Optus Stadium by 17 points in round two, and the Kangaroos are coming off an embarrassing triple-figure belting to Fremantle in Bunbury.
It is a prime chance for the Eagles to sn**ch a fifth win before a bye next week, which would exceed pre-season expectations on a side that tasted victory only once in 2026.
“It’s pivotal. North didn’t have the best result that they would’ve wanted last weekend, and we know they’re going to come out fit and firing,” he said.
“We’re preparing for the best version of them, and to be able to get a win will be helpful into the bye.
“We’re such a young group, and this bye is later in the season for us. So going into it with a win would be nice.”
Allan is one of several Eagles starting to emerge as they continue the rebuild, having put together a three-game patch of form that has impressed.
It comes after the first-round draftee was dropped following West Coast’s 101-point defeat to St Kilda in round seven, a decision that raised eyebrows amongst the supporter base.
“There was clear communication in some areas of the game I was a bit poor in, and I went back to the WAFL and tried to work on my contest,” he said.
“The industry is quite cutthroat, so I took it as a positive to go back to the WAFL and work on my game.
“I did come back into the AFL. I was able to translate that with a bit more confidence and have a bit more footy knowledge and confidence under my belt, which is helpful.”
