AFL Player #31: Zach Reid

[Lore]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2025
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 5, Happyskeret

 

[TheGrizz]

Gumby MK2

Will have his defenders till the day he's cut and will have a small group reflect on what might have been until the end of days.

But the body is seemingly cooked.

Count me in the defenders camp.

There was basically no VFL system in 2021 for him to play alot of games due to Covid, and he got glandular fever so that was just unlucky as oppose do systemic problems.

Last year, people seem to forget he played 17 games between the AFL and VFL team, so this idea that he hasn't been able to get on the park at all is simply not true.

Yes he has had cursed luck this year, but he has still played more than say Gawn did in his first 3 years who is a similar height and frame (who had 2 knee recos and a serious hamstring in his first 3 years).
He also had a massive growth spurt this year (3cm+) which is always going to put extra strain on a young frame.

I reserve judgement that he can still make it, it will just take time. If we get to this time next year and he is having similar level of issues, then I will panic.

 

[boncer34]

You mean the present?

Not really. I think the club has had him pencilled in as a key member of our spine when we contend in 2 to 3 years time.

I think that plan needs to change.

 

[Beerfish]

Not really. I think the club has had him pencilled in as a key member of our spine when we contend in 2 to 3 years time.

I think that plan needs to change.

Too soon.

 

[Beerfish]

I agree with both of you.

 

[boncer34]

I agree with both of you.

It could still go either way.

The issue is of course is that if Reid doesn't come on we won't find that KPD we'll need in 2 to 3 years time in the draft. We need to go find a mature player from somewhere else.

 

[Beerfish]

It could still go either way.

The issue is of course is that if Reid doesn't come on we won't find that KPD we'll need in 2 to 3 years time in the draft. We need to go find a mature player from somewhere else.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing if there's one available but it paints us into a corner if we don't draft another prospect in the meantime. I guess it comes down to what the competing needs are for our limited draft picks.

 

[TheGrizz]

It could still go either way.

The issue is of course is that if Reid doesn't come on we won't find that KPD we'll need in 2 to 3 years time in the draft. We need to go find a mature player from somewhere else.

I mean, we spent a top 25 Pick on Lewis Hayes and Kaine Baldwin is braining it as a 21yo KPD.

If Reid doesn't pan out it isn't like we don't have a contingency.

 

[boncer34]

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing if there's one available but it paints us into a corner if we don't draft another prospect in the meantime. I guess it comes down to what the competing needs are for our limited draft picks.

It does for sure but then it becomes about how many spots do you hold for KPD? We keep Reid, draft a newbie, get McKay or someone similar plus the others we already have..... is it to many?

I'd probably be inclined to grab McKay/Himmelberg this year, hold Reid for another season and see what happens. If he comes on then great, if he stays injured we look at the draft.

 

[boncer34]

I mean, we spent a top 25 Pick on Lewis Hayes and Kaine Baldwin is braining it as a 21yo KPD.

If Reid doesn't pan out it isn't like we don't have a contingency.

Baldwin is a forward braining it at VFL level in defense. Hayes we have no idea on him in the seniors yet.

Nothing wrong with adding to those options.

 

[DERO]

Not really. I think the club has had him pencilled in as a key member of our spine when we contend in 2 to 3 years time.

I think that plan needs to change.

I believe this is what is known as “tempting fate”.

 

[Pweter]

Short of delisting him and paying out his contract, we're stuck with him for 2 more seasons (unless a trade can magically be worked).

Once he recovers from his surgery we basically need to treat him like a draftee, not a 4th year player, until he's proven he can cope with the loads at one stage before increasing them incrementally. Playing games needs to almost be an afterthought at this stage.

If he gets through all of this and becomes a player then great, but I'm certainly not holding out hope any longer.

 

[Kong]

I look forward to Dodoro using this as justification to use our top draft pick on another skinny, project tall this year.

 

[Keystone agony]

It could still go either way.

The issue is of course is that if Reid doesn't come on we won't find that KPD we'll need in 2 to 3 years time in the draft. We need to go find a mature player from somewhere else.

Zerk, Hayes, Cox, Ridley, Baldwin in 3 years time?

 

[boncer34]

Zerk, Hayes, Cox, Ridley, Baldwin in 3 years time?

Zerk and Ridley are already there and we clearly need someone alongside them.

We also clearly want an older Reid alongside all the players you've listed. If he's not there then we need someone else.

 

[Keystone agony]

Zerk and Ridley are already there and we clearly need someone alongside them.

We also clearly want an older Reid alongside all the players you've listed. If he's not there then we need someone else.

Why do you think that

Without looking id guess Rids and Zerk would be circa 28 years old in 3 years time, theyre the experienced talls

Cox is the same age as Reid, Baldwin would be similar

Hayes will be yesr 4 which is toung for a 3rd tall, but im not even sure hes playing ahead of Cox, Baldwin, Zerk or Ridley (Let alone Lav) at that time

And SDK held a KPD spot in his 3rd year to win a grandfinal

 

[boncer34]

Why do you think that

Without looking id guess Rids and Zerk would be circa 28 years old in 3 years time, theyre the experienced talls

Cox is the same age as Reid, Baldwin would be similar

Because we drafted him?

Our list build was designed to have a backman of Reid's age alongside all those other players. It's not like we drafted them under the assumption Reid fails.

So should his body fall apart further we'll need a mature replacement for him to maintain the build.

 

[Ants]

love the excuses people make. Oh but it's this, oh, but its that

nope. some players are just injured and cannot cope with the rigours of AFL football. We just suck at identifying key position players

That is absolutely a possibility.

But there have been plenty of injured young talls who do make it. The idea that anyone not closely aligned with the club, and knowing a lot more about it than most here, could make that judegement call is crazy.

 

[Ants]

Because we drafted him?

Our list build was designed to have a backman of Reid's age alongside all those other players. It's not like we drafted them under the assumption Reid fails.

So should his body fall apart further we'll need a mature replacement for him to maintain the build.

Well, Cox and Reid were also discussed as being amongst the best tall forwards available in 2020 if McDonald/Thillithorpe were off the table. DGB was also talked as an option. And then we played Cox immediately as a wing.

So, I don't really think the fact we drafted him proves we wanted him alongside the others. That said, I do think the club wants him there, but that's opinion on my behalf.

 

[boncer34]

Well, Cox and Reid were also discussed as being amongst the best tall forwards available in 2020 if McDonald/Thillithorpe were off the table. DGB was also talked as an option. And then we played Cox immediately as a wing.

So, I don't really think the fact we drafted him proves we wanted him alongside the others. That said, I do think the club wants him there, but that's opinion on my behalf.

I'm confident saying we drafted him in 2020 with the assumption in 2024/2025 we'd have a 23-ish KPP as part of our list.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Count me in the defenders camp.

There was basically no VFL system in 2021 for him to play alot of games due to Covid, and he got glandular fever so that was just unlucky as oppose do systemic problems.

Last year, people seem to forget he played 17 games between the AFL and VFL team, so this idea that he hasn't been able to get on the park at all is simply not true.

Yes he has had cursed luck this year, but he has still played more than say Gawn did in his first 3 years who is a similar height and frame (who had 2 knee recos and a serious hamstring in his first 3 years).
He also had a massive growth spurt this year (3cm+) which is always going to put extra strain on a young frame.

I reserve judgement that he can still make it, it will just take time. If we get to this time next year and he is having similar level of issues, then I will panic.

I'm with you. Take a look at him - he was drafted as a skinny, very tall unit and as you say has somehow got even more massive.

Is he 205cms now? Regardless of the number, he's an absolute giant. He will be the biggest fullback in footy if that's where he ends up.

He has actually put on quite a lot of upper body size but has much further to go. It's a huge mountain to climb. When you see his body it doesn't yet look like an AFL body. Sure it would have been great to see him playing games and learning his craft, but there is no surprise it's breaking down.

The hope I hold is that I reckon in 2025 he's finally going to be strong enough to move that monster frame properly. Until that happens injuries are par for the course. Anything else is a bonus.

I doubt anyone inside the club is too worried just yet.

 

[Don Won]

Stewart is only two weeks away from full fitness, then all our KPD problems are solved. Reid can just develop in peace.

 

[P Money]

Just for comparison - Reid has played 8 AFL games in 3 years, his first year ruined by glandular fever (not injury). Jye Caldwell

6

Jye Caldwell

Age

24

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.7

5star

CL

1.8

4star

D

14.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

7.3

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.3

4star

CL

1.8

4star

D

13.6

4star

K

7.0

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.8

5star

CL

1.6

4star

played 2 games in 2019, 11 games in 2020 and 2 games in 2021. So 15 games in 3 years, as a 183cm midfielder. Serious and recurrent hamstring injuries at the Giants then tore it off the bone with us in 2021.

Time to calm the farm with Reid I reckon. Seems he has still been growing and some saying he's reached 205cm now, and he's more or less on par with Caldwell's first three years in terms of injuries and games played (noting he's also played a fair bit of VFL). Plenty of time for him to get his body right, calls for trading / cutting our losses are incredibly short sighted.

 

[ant555]

Just for comparison - Reid has played 8 AFL games in 3 years, his first year ruined by glandular fever (not injury). Jye Caldwell played 2 games in 2019, 11 games in 2020 and 2 games in 2021. So 15 games in 3 years, as a 183cm midfielder. Serious and recurrent hamstring injuries at the Giants then tore it off the bone with us in 2021.

Time to calm the farm with Reid I reckon. Seems he has still been growing and some saying he's reached 205cm now, and he's more or less on par with Caldwell's first three years in terms of injuries and games played (noting he's also played a fair bit of VFL). Plenty of time for him to get his body right, calls for trading / cutting our losses are incredibly short sighted.

All well and good but you are comparing a 200cm player who needed to put on 20kg to a 182cm player who had to find maybe 6kg. It is a different scenario. Also Caldwell would have been doing a higher running load .

 

[P Money]

All well and good but you are comparing a 200cm player who needed to put on 20kg to a 182cm player who had to find maybe 6kg. It is a different scenario. Also Caldwell would have been doing a higher running load .

Doesn't that bode even better for Reid? He's a slightly built 205cm tall, was always going to need time to grow into his body as opposed to Caldwell who came in pretty well ready to hit the ground running. Give Reid time to put on the kgs slowly and get himself AFL ready.

My point is his career to date and injury history is comparable to a 183cm mid who has now gotten his body right and for the past two seasons has hardly missed a game. For a 205cm stick figure who was always going to take significant time it's a long way from alarm bells yet. If he's looking like he can't get on the park after another season or two I'll join you all and start hammering that panic button.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Stewart is only two weeks away from full fitness, then all our KPD problems are solved. Reid can just develop in pieces.

FTFY