West Coast has been issued with a ‘please explain’ by the AFL amid debate over whether young star Harley Reid’s middle-finger salute overstepped the mark.
The heavily-scrutinised Reid gave away seven free kicks in West Coast’s 19-point loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Sunday, while he was also seen giving a section of Brisbane supporters the middle finger after being awarded a free kick following a bump from Lions ruckman Oscar McInerney. It led to a Lions fan running down to the fence to offer Reid a packet of tissues.
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West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said post-game he felt there was little wrong with Reid’s incident and an earlier exchange with Lions defender Dayne Zorko.
While Reid has been cleared by the MRO of any wrongdoing, multiple outlets have reported the AFL has asked the Eagles for further context around Reid’s gesture.
Reid FLIPS OFF Lions fans | 00:41
It comes as the profile picture on Reid’s Instagram account was changed to the famous shot of Brownlow Medallist Ben Cousins flipping the bird at a camera before a match in 2009.
The Cousins profile picture, though, didn’t last long, with the image replaced by a pre-game shot of Reid on Monday night.
McQualter said Reid’s exchange with Lions fans and players was merely part of the “theatre” of football and was “good for the game”.
“We try to bash the theatre out of this game sometimes, don’t we?” the Eagles coach said post-match.
“He’s just having a bit of fun. Sometimes that’s good for the game.”
When it was put to him on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 that West Coast had been offered a please explain, Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said: “I can explain it: Don’t be a dickhead, Harley.”
Asked by co-host Gerard Whateley it was time for an intervention, Lyon said: “If West Coast don’t, there’s about 14 other teams that will.
“We spoke about it last week. He got more criticism and he brought it on himself. As I said last week and pre-empted this, he’s a 19-year-old. He’ll make a fool of himself and embarrass himself. Giving seven free kicks way, no good.
“But he’s 19, learned a lesson and learn it the hard way, Harley – you’re making it hard for yourself. But he’ll get there.”
Speaking on Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight, triple All-Australian Nick Dal Santo said Reid shouldn’t be judged so harshly.
“I’ve got to be delicate with this one because I know there’s kids watching and these guys are representing the AFL for all the lower levels,” Dal Santo told AFL Tonight. “But we’re also in the entertainment industry – and this guy, whether you like it or not, is entertaining. He’s on the front page, the back page in the west, let alone the publicity that he gets here (in Melbourne).
McQualter left with mixed emotions | 09:17
“Opposition players and their fans are going out of their way to target a kid who’s 19 years of age. He’s still immature, in regards to his football experiences, and he’s trying to find the best way he can to defend himself, to protect himself but also make his way as an AFL player.
“This guy will be a star, so enjoy it while you can and getting on top of Harley Reid, because there’ll be a time where no one touches him. He will not necessarily change the way football is played, but he will add to those who have changed it over the past five or 10 years.
“So I’m OK with it. I get it that it’s probably a little bit immature and a few other things, but this is a kid who is finding his way and we’re expecting a lot from a guy who’s in his second year of football and he’s still learning the game.”
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