West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern has declared co-captain Oscar Allen is 100 per cent committed to the Eagles’ 2025 campaign while admitting he secretly met with Fremantle in 2018.

Allen has come under intense scrutiny this week after it was revealed he sat down with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, who poached premiership defender Tom Barrass from the Eagles last year, in the wake of his side’s round three derby loss to Fremantle.

So much so, he publicly apologised to teammates and fans on Thursday morning, backed by footy boss John Worsfold.

However, speaking on Nova on Friday morning, five-time All-Australian McGovern said Allen had nothing to apologise for and revealed he had once met with then Fremantle coach Ross Lyon to discuss a possible cross-town defection that never arose.

“Everyone’s always got their own opinions. But my view on it was, mate, you don’t need to apologise at all. This is fine,” he said.

“I met with Ross (Lyon). I did it privately at my manager’s house. It was a few years ago now but that’s happening all the time.

“It’s such a common thing. In this day and age, everyone knows that this is happening.”

Allen has had a torrid start to his season, and after an equal career-worst performance against the Dockers with just four touches, he is averaging barely six disposals per match for one goal.

His score involvements have also gone from five in 2024 to one per game this year, while he has gone from 2.5 marks inside 50 per match to one.

But McGovern, who will miss the trip to Sydney to face the Giants due to a groin injury, says commitment is not at the heart of Allen’s form, backing the powerful goal kicker to continue trying to push the struggling club forward.

“I know Ozzie really well, so for me, there was not one tiny bit of worry that Oscar Allen is not going to give us absolutely everything,” he said.

“He’s done it for years; ever since he’s been the footy club, he’s been one of the best clubmen I’ve seen. I know that no matter what, whether he wanted to go, stay, whatever he was doing, because I’ve been through it.

“He’s got decisions to make. I just knew that… whether he met with other clubs, he is 100 per cent in at West Coast. So for me, personally, I was never really worried about it.”

McGovern added he felt “flat” when he heard people were questioning whether Allen should remain in a leadership role.

“No, I do not question it one bit, no ounce of question for me,” he said.

“That’s the reason Oscar is our captain; the way he conducts himself around the footy club and the way he conducts himself around the team is exactly why he’s there.

“He still does have a right to set himself up for the future, whether, hopefully, that’s with us, for sure, that’s exactly what I’m hoping for. But also, at the same time, just because I think he’s got the captaincy on his head, that means he’s not allowed to do anything, if that makes sense.

“Ideally, don’t get caught if you are having these conversations. But after he did, yeah, I just felt it was a little bit unfair at times on people having a go with him… in my eyes, I back him 100 per cent, and I’m hoping he’s at West Coast, for sure.”