{"id":223826,"date":"2026-10-13T11:53:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T01:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=223826"},"modified":"2026-10-13T11:53:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T01:53:14","slug":"allen-loved-consistent-top-age-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/10\/13\/allen-loved-consistent-top-age-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Allen “loved” consistent top-age season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AN UNFORGETTABLE season that included a Vic Metro MVP, All-Australian honours, All-Stars representation and a National Draft Combine invite, Northern Knights defender Alli Allen<\/a> could hardly believe the year she put together looking back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think I had a very consistent year,” Allen said. “Loved it, loved the opportunities that I got given with Metro, All-Stars and even winning the MVP, I was very shocked but very privileged to get that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Loved the group of girls that we had, going into Metro, just the connection we had was amazing. “On the backend of my year I loved how I was able to come back to the champs fit after my concussion and just really show what I’m made of.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn’t just winning the MVP that was surprising, but the fact Allen achieved the feat after missing a game – against South Australia – due to the concussion which she sustained with one of of her typical courageous efforts against Western Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“[It was] amazing,” she said. “Definitely shocked me, I never thought that was on my bingo card coming back from a concussion. “But to hear my name called out, it just goes to show the hard work that I had done coming back into that last game paid off.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen regarded her aerial consistency – particularly from an intercept perspective – as her biggest improvement for 2026, pairing well with her already impressive reading of the play ability. As for what she wanted to still build upon, it was once she had ball in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Composure with the ball definitely going into next year,” Allen said. “Just want to learn the pace of the game and just learning to take a deep breath when I have the ball in my hands.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen has locked down that intercepting and running half-back role, but with Northern got a taste for life as a wing and even push forward to be a goalkicking option. The all-round prospect described the experience as “amazing”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I love playing anywhere and everywhere, I’ll always give it a go,” she said. “My competitiveness shows that, and just to get the opportunity to go on the wing, play a bit of forward, it was fun.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eyeing off a 6:15 1.6km time-trial heading into the National Draft Combine, Allen surpassed that comfortably with a 5:53 time, finishing equal seventh overall. That hard running and work rate is what she was looking to bring to whatever club selected her in this year’s AFLW Draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Definitely go get in that early work done in the pre-preseason, just meet all the girls and show them what I’m made of,” she said of the first thing to do over the off-season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s little secret that Carlton is front of the queue for Allen’s services, with the Research junior coming through the AFL’s Indigenous Academy and is a member of Carlton’s Next-Generation Academy as well. She could not be more complimentary of how the Blues had shaped her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They’ve been amazing,” she said. “I’ve been so privileged to have them a part of my life. “I go in every Monday to go in and train and the knowledge that they have and implement that into my game, I’m so grateful.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the obvious club link and dream of continuing to head into Ikon Park, Allen understood the nature of the draft, and was ready for whatever came and would play anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I just take it as it comes,” Allen said. “I’m grateful for Carlton, but obviously it’s not in my hands, draft night. Just see where I go and see what happens with it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DRAFT FEATURES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New South Wales: <\/strong>Evie Bowie<\/a>, Frances Walsh<\/a>, Majella Day<\/a>, Morgan Stevens<\/a>
Queensland: <\/strong>Zoe Petrides<\/a>, Summer Browning<\/a>
South Australia:<\/strong> Emily Mableson<\/a>, Emma Charlton<\/a>
Vic Country: <\/strong>Greea McKeegan<\/a>, Lily Milner<\/a>, Eliza Roche<\/a>, Lacey Nihill<\/a>
Vic Metro: <\/strong>Bailee Martin<\/a>, Tayla Olivieri<\/a>, Maddison Meagher<\/a>, Brylee Anderson<\/a>, Grace McIntyre<\/a>
Western Australia:<\/strong> Lexi Strachan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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