I don't see Reid as an issue for Phillips. Sanders, absolutely.Phillips definitely deserves another 12 months to prove himself but the problem he/we will face is that if we bring in Reid and Sanders its going to be hard for him to get the midfield minutes he needs he afl level to prove himself.
He could end up being 6th/7th in the mid pecking order and that means he will need to show he can play in other positions - wing, small forward, back flank? Maybe he can perform in those roles but it's not what he was drafted for and certainly not what he has spent his junior career doing.
I really liked his 2 break out games mid year - but his form lapse (especially the repeated fumbling) since then has been perplexing. His confidence should have been sky high after back to back good efforts at AFL level yet he regressed to a slow, fumbly plodder over an extended period of time - seemingly without injuries.
He really needs to nail this pre season - he will give it his best shot as he is one of the most professional players we have at the club - but he needs to happen for him or he will be overtaken.
Happy to be corrected but I see Harley as Hodge in the back half or Toby Greene in the forward half, dependent on how he develops.