West Coast has a $24 million contract call on its young Pick 1 star – and whether the club should accept a massive counter-offer has split two AFL greats.
Harley Reid is set to miss the rest of this season due to a syndesmosis injury as the in-demand Eagles star closes in on a decision on his footy future.
“Not how I wanted the season to end and not the season everyone was hoping for,” Reid wrote as part of a curious Instagram post on Monday.
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“Very grateful for the fans who have showed up week in week out. We’ll keep building together.
“BRB.”
Despite being contracted until the end of next season, Reid is being tipped to decide on his long-term footy future in the coming weeks amid significant interest from multiple, cashed-up Victorian clubs.
The Eagles for well over a year have been actively speaking to Reid’s management about a new contract, with the club earlier this season tabling a suite of juicy deals of different lengths deals to him.
But Reid’s camp this month has presented counter-proposals to the Eagles, with one reportedly worth in the vicinity of $24 million over 11 years. At the same time, Victorian clubs are also willing to offer Reid long-term deals reportedly worth over $2 million a season. Hawthorn, Geelong and Essendon have been among the rivals clubs most consistently linked to the Bendigo Pioneers product.
Reid’s manager, Nick Gieschen, recently returned from a trip to Perth, which included discussions over Reid’s future with West Coast.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s On The Couch, Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph said Reid was keen to re-sign with the Eagles, but only if the deal included the security of a long-term trigger.
“West Coast has a $24 million decision to make on Harley Reid,” Ralph told On The Couch.
“He will sign in a heartbeat if they (the Eagles) accept his counter-offer, which is two years to 2027 and then a nine-year contract extension. So in all, about $24 million over 11 years.
“He will not sign a two-year deal at West Coast. He would ask for a trade. I think his view is there is guaranteed money in Victoria – and if he only signed for two years, he’d be passing that up. He’s not prepared to do it.
“He’s aware this salary cap goes up 37 per cent over the next five years. It’s a massive decision for West Coast: Back him in as a generational player or realise he will ask for a trade at the end of the season.”
McQualter praises ‘selfless’ Harley Reid | 09:47
Asked whether the Eagles should financially invest in Reid to that extent, seven-time All-Australian Nathan Buckley cheekily suggested “I wonder why he’d be ‘signing in a heartbeat’”, before declaring: “I personally don’t think that is a decision West Coast should make.
“If you’re being held to ransom in some shape or form by this player for that amount of money, that means you’re probably going to get two or three first-rounders back. Maybe that depth is going to be better for you than a Harley Reid.”
Buckley was challenged by fellow panellist Jonathan Brown about whether the Eagles would prefer known commodities rather than picks – aka “untried players”. But Buckley said he’d be prepared to take that risk.
It led to a live TV debate between the On The Couch panel members.
Nathan Buckley: “The other piece to this is – and I don’t have the answer to this, in terms of culture and character – is Harley Reid the character you want to build this club around? Because if he is, absolutely offer him that deal.”
Jack Riewoldt responded: “Is there enough evidence to suggest he’s the character? He’s had one (full) pre-season and, by all reports, has come back in shape that isn’t of an AFL standard. We constantly have conversations about him being hot-headed – and the caveat is he’s young and learning – are you willing to risk $24 million on that?”
Jonathan Brown: But didn’t we have the same conversation about Luke Hodge? He might become a legend in the Hall of Fame.
JR: Well I didn’t … Can you see Harley Reid turning into Luke Hodge?
JB: Well, to me he looks like he’s a competitor like ‘Hodgey’. It looks to me like he has a thirst for the contest. Whether he’s got the same leadership qualities, that’s going to be a hard level to reach. But to me, you can’t lose these generational players – and clearly he was the best player (of his draft class). With the benefit of time, with some maturity he’ll learn to become a professional with all the pressure that’s going to be steeped on him. I wouldn’t be letting a player of this quality leave because he’s going to come back to hurt you. And I think players mature at different levels. All these players, just because they’re professionally paid, doesn’t meant they’re professionals at the age of 18.
Later, four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis added: “That’s the hardest thing. How many players do we see come into the system now who are ready to go, who are chiselled, speak really well, no indiscretion … There’s a soft spot for me for players like Harley.
“I’m a little bit like you (Brown) – and the money will sort itself out – but he is a player we think will be generational. I’d be staggered if they lost him.”
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