The silky-skilled midfielder informed Hawks’ officials on Monday he was departing his home club to join the reigning premier.

Wodonga was also in the mix for Allan until late last week.

While Magpies coach Jason Lappin declined to comment to The Border Mail, Allan is expected to sign today.

The loss of Allan is a cruel blow to new coach Matt Allen as he tries to better their seventh-place finish under John McNamara.

“It’s disappointing, but it’s just something Jamie wants to do, he’s taken a long time to decide and that’s his decision,” Allen said.

“He just told us he felt he had to do it for his own footy, so that’s up to Jamie and there is not much we can do about it.”

Allan finished second in the Morris Medal last season after re-joining the Hawks midway through the previous year from VFL club Box Hill.

He has finished top-three in three of the Hawks’ past four senior best and fairest awards and is a previous thirds league medal winner in 2002.

“It will open a gap for some young bloke to put his hand up,” Allen said.

“It’s a great incentive for the young group that we’ve got, so it’s created something there for the team.”

The Hawks have already lost key forwards Peter Cristoforo and Jesse Silver and the future of Allan’s younger brother Robbie is now up in the air.

Former Richmond rookie Tas Clingan is the Hawks’ biggest off-season signing and he will bring former Wickliffe-Lake Bolac teammates Ben Britten and Wal Ritchie with him to the W.J. Findlay Oval.

Allan will bolster the Magpies’ already formidable midfield stocks with Jon McCormick, Jesse Smith, Daine Porter and Shaun Gannon expected to form the nucleus.

Last season’s best and fairest and Did Simpson Medal winner Sam Higgs is yet to commit to the Magpies.

He is weighing up whether to try his hand in the VFL.

Lappin did confirm exciting youngster Jacob Craven would play with the Magpies next season.

Craven spent the bulk of last season with the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup but was dropped for their grand final victory against the Dandeong Stingrays at the Telstra Dome.

He played one senior game for Wangaratta last season and was impressive as the Magpies defeated the Hawks convincingly at the W.J. Findlay Oval.

BY - BRAD MCGRATH