Harley Reid has outlined his development both on and off the field heading into year three, including the expanded role he expects to play this season.
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Plus, new co-captain Liam Baker singled out the “outstanding” impact one emerging star has had since transitioning into a midfielder this summer.
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Reid, who entered the AFL with prodigious expectations on his shoulders, hasn’t yet been the consistent explosive force that most tipped he would be as the consensus No.1 pick in 2023.
In an inexperienced midfield that battled injury and serious form issues during a torrid 2025 campaign, the Tongala native rated average among fellow ball-winners in most relevant statistical measures.
He sat 76th among midfielders last year for player rating, having also been temporarily trialled in defence as the rebuilding Eagles scrambled to keep things fresh in a bleak one-win campaign.
But with a healthy Elliot Yeo hopefully back in the fold, as well as a host of depth additions in the middle, plus natural progression, a trim-looking Reid appears primed to fulfil the lofty expectations bestowed on him.
Further, with contract speculation behind him for at least the next three years, and the legendary Dustin Martin’s advice in tow, there’s little in the way of Harley and a genuine breakout campaign.
“I think, just for me, to keep growing and developing my game both on and off the field,” Reid told Foxfooty.com.au of his goals for the new season.
“Skill-wise, developing my skills to keep becoming the best possible player I can. And then off-field, there are some small things you can alter and change to become the best version of yourself that will help you then lead on-field.
“I wanted to improve my running capability (and) being able to find the best weight I want to play at, alternating between stuff like that.”
While Reid was thrown back for a portion last year, the 20-year-old expects to play a centre-forward role in 2026, archetypal of the game’s modern-day stars.
“I’m looking to head a bit down forward as well — that mid-forward role,” he said.
“I think that’s where I can utilise my strengths and play to the best of my ability, so I think that mid-forward role will be where I’ll mainly be.”
Reid, buoyed by West Coast’s revitalised midfield mix this pre-season, says the club’s addition of depth through the guts will do wonders for the side.
“It’s been good, to be honest. I think, now, we actually have a bit of depth,” he candidly said.
“People have to work for spots, and I think that’s probably the first time in the three years that I’ve been here that we actually have to, I guess, work for our spot (because) there’s a lot of depth, so that … spots are up for grabs each week.
“And it’s been something that we’ve loved having, and people have worked harder, trained harder.”
The Eagles went about bringing across fringe midfielders Harry Schoenberg, Deven Robertson and Fin Macrae, who have a genuine shot at cracking Andrew McQuater’s on-ball rotation.
“The likes of Harry Schoenberg; he’s going to be a gun, I think he’s going to roll straight in. He’s looking to play that half-forward/mid role, depending on whether he can crack the midfield,” Reid said.
“We’ve got Jack Graham, Elliot Yeo — who’s going to be back fit and firing — even Deven Robertson’s trying to get a sniff in there, Elijah Hewett (is) trying to, obviously me trying to as well.
“It’s good; we’ve got heaps of numbers that are trying to fill that mid spot, and there’s a lot of people to choose from, and everyone’s putting their hand up. So, come Round 1, selection is going to be bloody hard.”
And one in that aspiring mix is last year’s midseason draft gem Tom McCarthy.
“He’s been outstanding in the midfield,” first-year co-captain Liam Baker told Foxfooty.com.au.
“He’s only been in the game six months, but hopefully he has a big impact for us this year.
“Seeing him in his first week of training last year, you think ‘this guy’s a gun’, and seeing him now, it’s amazing.”
McCarthy — literally — burst onto the scene in the second half of last year as a rebounding back flanker, but he’s pushed into the engine room this summer and impressed in match simulation.
Baker believes McCarthy, whom he recalls overlapping with during their time at Richmond, is all but set to have a centre-square impact this year for the Eagles.
“He’s been around the ball with Harley and Jack Graham; they’ve got a good little mix there, it seems like,” Baker said.
“I think (he’ll be at) centre-bounce. I’m not sure what the go is come Round 1, but that’s where he’s been training.”
Of the new recruits’ impact thus far, Baker couldn’t go past the No.1 pick from last November’s draft, but also named a couple of the aforementioned midfielders.
“Duursma’s pretty impressive, the way he looks. He moves so fast; his skills are unbelievable,” Baker said.
“Harry Schoenberg’s one, from the Crows, his inside work. Just how tough, and Deven as well, how tough they are inside, and just aggressive around the ball — it’s what we’ve lacked, being such a young group.
“It’s good to have those boys on board.”
As for Duursma, who most suspect will play for West Coast in the early going this season, is settling comfortably into a wing role — but could play just about anywhere with his 193-centimetre frame.
“A little bit on the ball, but I just remember how long his arms were in handball games early days pre-Chrissy and just getting his hands into places, and his skills with ball in hand as well,” Baker said.
“So, having him around the ball would be a good thing, I reckon. Just being able to get in people’s faces and his skills inside and out, so I suppose there are a few options there (for him), so it’s exciting.”
Elsewhere, Baker raised unsung wingman Hamish Davis as a breakout candidate for the Eagles this year.
“He’s just a solid, smart footballer,” Baker said. “I think he’ll play a number of games for us this year.
“He’s one that you don’t have too many people talk about, ‘Hammer’, when we’ve got high draft picks on our team.
“I feel like he needs a shout-out, because his understanding of role, his want to push training standards, running … he’s elite at all that.
“He played a few games last year, half-forward and a bit of wing. He had that exposure, but I feel the way he knows the game, it’s going to be exciting for us.”
Davis, 19, played eight senior games in his debut season after arriving at Lathlain as the No.65 pick two drafts ago.
Baker said Davis’ “application to role” is his best trait while he continues to develop at the top level.
“He plays on the wing, so it’s a lot of unrewarded running. Up and back, and a lot of people at home watching might think those guys aren’t important, but those wingers are extremely important to winning games of footy.
“So, it’s good to see that there’s a young fella in his second year doing everything he can to play as much footy as he can, and executing his role, which is exciting.”
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As for Baker, the 28-year-old utility called it “a great honour” to be handed the co-captaincy reins ahead of just his second year at the club.
The dual premiership star has navigated a couple of niggles throughout the pre-season, but has his eyes firmly set on the upcoming practice matches.
And while the tough 151-gamer is capable of pushing into the midfield previously, he expects to settle at half-back this year in what is a new-look Eagles backline.
“I’ve been a bit interrupted, so I hadn’t had a great look at it yet, but I feel like with the core we’ve got down there, some senior and experienced players, ‘Starc’ (Brandon Starcevich) and Tylar Young coming in, they’re both solid defenders,” he said.
“I feel like that six or seven group down there, I feel like we’re building a good little core backline unit, so that’s something I want to be a part of.”
On stepping into a greater leadership role, Baker said: “I just want to be myself and be the person that the players voted me in to lead them.
“So that’d just be having a laugh around the club, getting around the boys as much as I can, and train as hard as I can and hopefully come out on gameday and lead in a way that brings people along with me.
“I’m excited to be involved in that.”
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