Premiership Eagle Will Schofield has hit back at “unwarranted” criticism towards Harley Reid, saying there’s “100 more issues” at West Coast after a bleak Round 1 loss to Gold Coast.
Reid in the fallout of the 87-point home defeat has come under fire including scrutiny towards his back and forth with Suns players where the former No. 1 draft pick’s frustrations seemed to get the better of him.
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The 19-year old from Tongala is no stranger to the spotlight after being one of the most talked about players in the AFL over the last 12 months including intense focus in Western Australian media.
But Schofield thinks the commentary has gone too far, arguing there’s unfair expectations on the second-year player.
“I understand the pressure and what comes with being a No. 1 draft pick. But I find it strange Harley Reid is the biggest talking point when the entire Eagles midfield was torched by Gold Coast and there were plenty of senior players out there,” Schofield told foxfooty.com.au.
“The criticism of his game unwarranted around losing focus and the consistency factor, given he’s in his second year of footy.
“He’s become the poster boy, but not by his own doing. People want to talk about Harley, it certainly started over here from the West Australian – the only paper in town — they put him on the back page for an entire year.
“That has flowed into continued examination and criticism of his game. There are 100 more issues at the Eagles than Harley Reid. They’ve replaced their CEO, head coach, head of fitness, head of physio and senior players have been traded out.
“There’s probably not been more change at a football club in the entire AFL, yet the focus lands with a No. 1 draft pick in Harley Reid. I don’t know what he’s brought on himself other than being picked up No. 1.”
Reid finished with 12 disposals and a goal against Gold Coast including just two touches to half-time, when he appeared to exchange tense words with Suns players.
Schofield thinks it’s on Reid to concentrate more on his game and “let his footy do the talking” instead of “trying to find fights.”
But the 2018 premiership Eagle, who thinks the closest thing to the extreme focus on the teenager out west was what former No. 2 pick Nic Naitanui faced, also called for Reid’s senior teammates to protect him more.
“It certainly is more difficult in this day and age with social media and the frenzy of football programs and voices to put someone like Harley in the gun – I call it being in the media gun,” Schofield said.
“To come out of the weekend and have Harley Reid as the number one man in the gun is bizarre.
“I’d like to see some voices from inside the West Coast Eagles defend him a little bit more if I’m honest. I’d love to see a senior player from West Coast come out and basically take full responsibility for the performance they put out. I haven’t really seen that.”
It’s made for a difficult environment for Reid to succeed in after moving across the country, with the rebuilding Eagles finishing 16th in his first season and replacing long-time coach Adam Simpson with the untried Andrew McQualter.
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From a football perspective, Schofield conceded Reid “isn’t as prepared or as fit as he could be,” but said it’s “not something to hang him over given he’s a second-year player” and simply mightn’t know what it takes yet to be a complete professional.
“He might’ve been a No. 1 draft pick, but what if he doesn’t know? How are you meant to learn?,” he posed.
“Especially in the environment West Coast has provided him, they’ve been a terrible football club. You can’t just click your fingers and know this stuff.
“Maybe Nick Daicos, Harry Sheezel and Jason Horne-Francis know better than him? Maybe they’re more consistent and better preparers than him and he hasn’t had someone to teach him those lessons?
“That falls less on Harley Reid and more on the West Coast Eagles. They need to take responsibility for teaching a young man that clearly doesn’t know what it takes yet. That’s OK for a young player.”
It comes amid growing speculation around Reid’s future amid talk he could request a trade back to Victoria as soon this year on a potential $2 million record deal.
Essendon is the club that’s long been linked to the young gun, but don’t count out Hawthorn and St Kilda should Reid pursue a move.
“I just think it’s Round 1 of 2025 and a conversation that’s been planted into the media. How do you look at a second-year player and say after one round: ‘His head isn’t in the game, he’s worried about his contract’?,” Schofield posed.
“How would anyone have any idea? Why can’t that be a kid who hasn’t found what it takes to be consistent and hasn’t got his body where it needs to be? I think that’s pretty clear.
“But contract stuff is just outside noise for mine. It could be that, but it just as easily might not be.”
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