West Coast have entered a new dilemma with emerging star Harley Reid, as questions over his character emerge off the back of his side’s 19-point loss to Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.
The second-year Eagle was cheekily seen giving a provocative Brisbane fan the middle finger in the dying stages of their away clash, in a match where he gave away a whopping seven free kicks to his Lions opponents.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s First Crack, host Jay Clark revealed that he believes Andrew McQualter’s new club is stuck between a rock and a hard place with how they handle the number one pick of the 2023 National Draft.
“West Coast is in quite the tight spot with Harley Reid. On one hand, they’re trying to shield him from all the media scrutiny, and essentially cuddle him into re-signing and staying at the club. But at what point does he need some tough love, a firmer approach? Clark questioned.
“I think West Coast is cornered with this contract situation with Harley Reid; they’re desperate for him to stay.
“We know he’s a talented footballer, I’m not disputing that. But is he an undisciplined footballer? Is he an unhappy footballer?
“Is he a distracted footballer? Did he come back to the club over summer in great shape? I don’t think so. Rival clubs are all at the moment saying: ‘Harley Reid is coming back, he’s leaving West Coast’.”
Reid, who last year averaged the second-most free kicks against in the competition, is being hotly pursued from afar by rival Victorian clubs, as the Eagles prepare to throw their best offer forward to keep the 19-year-old at their rebuilding club long-term.
Curiosity surrounding contract status will only grow as the 2025 season goes on, in what will be the ultimate challenge for first-year senior coach McQualter.
“It’s a big challenge for Andrew McQualter. I think he’s more than capable of handling it; I believe he’s already had a fair but firm conversation with Harley about what he wants to be as a footballer,” St Kilda great Leigh Montagna continued.
“McQualter’s greatest strength is his relationship with players. He has a great rapport with Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton (at Richmond). If anyone can have that ability with Harley Reid, it might be McQualter.
“I just wonder if he’s getting a little bit frustrated with himself with his own performance, and maybe his body at the moment isn’t allowing him to do what he did last season.”
Reid’s start to 2025 has been somewhat underwhelming due to the lofty standards pundits have set of the future star, with the midfielder averaging 13.5 disposals and 3.5 clearances per game from his first two home-and-away hit outs this year.
Reid FLIPS OFF Lions fans | 00:41
And for dual Kangaroos premiership player David King, if his output was at its maximum to start of 2025, he believes all the external noise and questioning of him would die down considerably.
“You can’t do all this and not perform. You can handle free kicks against, you can handle the odd 50 metre penalty … if you’re performing,” King stated.
“Today, they were screaming out for five minutes of brilliance from this guy, the game was in the balance for 30 minutes. If he had of just applied himself for 10, it’s a different story (and) you’re not having this conversation.
“It’s a fine line. I don’t think a tough conversation will cost you the player; if he can’t handle that, what’s his worth?”
Reid will take to the field next in the Western Derby next Sunday night at Optus Stadium against Fremantle, a rival he dominated against in both encounters last year.
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