In a short but decorated playing career, Allan was appointed the inaugural captain of Fremantle, and is one of only two footballers to have won three consecutive Simpson Medals, the other being Barry Cable.
He won the medal in 1988 and 1990 for being the best player in a State of Origin match involving Western Australia, and in 1989 as best on ground in the WAFL Grand Final.
He was the only former All-Australian, the only club best-and-fairest winner and one of only 2 former premiership players in the original Fremantle squad of 50 He played all 22 games in 1995 and finished third in the best and fairest award.
In the Round 5 match against Footscray at Whitten Oval, he had the chance to win the game with a kick after the final siren from 70 metres out.
Reflecting on the game in an interview for Fremantle's official website in 2019, Allan shared his thoughts as he was lining up to take the kick: “I took a mark and the siren went and I had the shot – it was like the dream had come true.
I reckon if I hit it pure on the ball I could have made the distance with that little breeze.”[2]The kick fell short, allowing the Bulldogs to escape with a two-point victory.
The joyous spirit of this game, played in front of a smallish but passionate crowd in night rain at Subiaco Oval, was rejuvenating for the club and its supporters after the gloom of the Damian Drum years.