Speculation Harley Reid [OOC 2026]

[Superstar swan]

Yes. Xavier at Essendon, Zane at North Melbourne, and there's a 3rd brother on the way.

Oh ok , yea that probably boosts it to a 12 year deal now to stay at wce

 

[jdstorm]

All reports he's happy to be there.

Also, he has another year on his contract.

WCE have no obligation to accept a middling offer from Essendon for him.

That's without even considering the fact that Essendon themselves have many list needs. If they make a big play for Reid, it shows they learnt nothing from Dodo's mismanagement of the past 20+ decades, considering it'd wipe out all their best picks from at least 2025 and 2026 just for WCE to consider it.

All reports he's happy to be there.

Also, he has another year on his contract.

WCE have no obligation to accept a middling offer from Essendon for him.

That's without even considering the fact that Essendon themselves have many list needs. If they make a big play for Reid, it shows they learnt nothing from Dodo's mismanagement of the past 20+ decades, considering it'd wipe out all their best picks from at least 2025 and 2026 just for WCE to consider it.

One of the interesting things about Essedons list is how they are unbalanced in certain areas.

For instance Essendon has 5 good small mids (Merrett, Caldwell, Parish, Sheil, Hobbs) but you only really want 2 small mids that size. So Essendon has to try and consolidate that talent in some way.

Same as FF you have Draper and Wright who are both flawed but decent FFs. Both are too good for VFL ect but not top AFL players.

So you can make a good case for trying to consolidate the most valuable talent rather then selling for cents on the dollar. If your doing that may as well try and get elite A+ talent

 

[bzparkes]

Does his Mrs still live in vic ?

She spent a fair amount of the AFLW offseason in Perth last year.

 

[wadistance]

Every team's 'building' a premiership list, that's literally their job.

Doesn’t explain what freo have been doing since 1994

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I don't see any scenario where tigers are not involed in this trade in some capacity.

Lathlan will be burnt in crisp if wce don't extract good draft picks for him

Reid is not going to Richmond people forget its the player who decides.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Whilst the pissing contest can continue, im not discounting Essendon to enter this chat


Vozzo and Rosa would have good relationships at West Coast still and we may very well have the collateral to appease he Eagles (Ess 1sr, Melb 1st, Ess 2026 1st)

If he does go back to Vic, based purely off nothing but gut feel, I'd be betting on him picking Geelong or Essendon (with the Pies next)

Big IF though. I actually reckon he will extend for one year earlyish into this year, and then we all do this dance again for another couple of years

 

[random260]

Complete laughable how everyone thinks he will sign a one year contract for being a good sport and to pay us back.


I said this from the outset and everyday that goes past rings true. He either gets traded at end of the year 2026 or he is Eagles for life. There is no middle ground

 

[amazingjoshy]

Complete laughable how everyone thinks he will sign a one year contract for being a good sport and to pay us back.


I said this from the outset and everyday that goes past rings true. He either gets traded at end of the year or he is Eagles for life. There is no middle ground

Who's said anything about "paying us back?"

Another year on stupid money and to see if there's any improvement happening

The only thing "completely laughable" is thinking that if he leaves he's going to pick a team worse than WC. He wants to win

 

[random260]

Who's said anything about "paying us back?"

Another year on stupid money and to see if there's any improvement happening

The only thing "completely laughable" is thinking that if he leaves he's going to pick a team worse than WC. He wants to win

No he wants to be with his girlfriend and family.

He will know by the end of yewr if there is any improvement. One year isn't going to prove anything

 

[amazingjoshy]

No he wants to be with his girlfriend and family.

He will know by the end of yewr if there is any improvement. One year isn't going to prove anything

You obviously agree alot depends on whether WC is showing any improvement. He clearly hates losing.

So why (if he does leave) he would pick the one team almost certain to be terrible for the next few years when he has 9 other teams to choose from?

 

[random260]

You obviously agree alot depends on whether WC is showing any improvement. He clearly hates losing.

So why (if he does leave) he would pick the one team almost certain to be terrible for the next few years when he has 9 other teams to choose from?

No he will leave even if we improve. I said he is 100% leaving because of family and girlfriend.

Whoopee we won more games. I'll stay now because of winning and now i no longer miss my loved ones because we are winning. That logic does not work

 

[amazingjoshy]

No he will leave even if we improve. I said he is 100% leaving because of family and girlfriend.

Whoopee we won more games. I'll stay now because of winning and now i no longer miss my loved ones because we are winning. That logic does not work

He either gets traded at end of the year 2026 or he is Eagles for life.

 

[sydney_gws]

Playing AFL is almost like moving to another place to go uni ( uni holidays were 18 to 20 weeks in total with a 2 semester system).
So you get to live at home a fair bit anyway.
But 4000km away is different to 400km or less.
Up to Harley what he does, he may be undecided or if he wants to leave at end of 2026 now he might change his mind.

 

[Shueygod]

Will he get upset when you delist Chesser or are you just going to have to keep him till HR signs a 10 year contract?

How’s Erasmus doing?

 

[Purple Suit]

How’s Erasmus doing?

Starved of opportunity but that should change in 25. Got a rising star nomination and would have won a Sandover if he played the whole year in the WAFL. He’s not getting AFL games but a long way from a bust.

 

[fnerd]

How’s Erasmus doing?

Quite good actually.

polled close to the leader in the sandover medal despite missing 5 games ,was BOG in the prelim and then backed it up again in the GF taking out the Simpson medal in peels victory , all as a STILL 20 year old.

Thanks for the concern tho

 

[wadistance]

Quite good actually.

polled close to the leader in the sandover medal despite missing 5 games ,was BOG in the prelim and then backed it up again in the GF taking out the Simpson medal in peels victory , all as a STILL 20 year old.

Thanks for the concern tho

That’s awesome. Great WAFL player.

 

[Shueygod]

Starved of opportunity but that should change in 25. Got a rising star nomination and would have won a Sandover if he played the whole year in the WAFL. He’s not getting AFL games but a long way from a bust.

Quite good actually.

polled close to the leader in the sandover medal despite missing 5 games ,was BOG in the prelim and then backed it up again in the GF taking out the Simpson medal in peels victory , all as a STILL 20 year old.

Thanks for the concern tho

Pity he can’t hit a target at AFL level, reckon Chesser more likely to make it over that hack.

 

[Purple Suit]

Pity he can’t hit a target at AFL level, reckon Chesser more likely to make it over that hack.

Interesting as he had a higher disposal efficiency than Chesser in 2024 despite being the sub in all of his 4 games.

Chesser has only gotten 20 disposals once in 3 season and that was in the WAFL. Doesn’t kick goals & not looking good. If he was a 2nd or 3rd rounder or in a better team he’d be gone already.

Erasmus pretty much doesn’t get under 20 disposals anymore in the WAFL & is on target to do the same in the AFL with opportunity.

 

[Shueygod]

Interesting as he had a higher disposal efficiency than Chesser in 2024 despite being the sub in all of his 4 games.

Chesser has only gotten 20 disposals once in 3 season and that was in the WAFL. Doesn’t kick goals & not looking good. If he was a 2nd or 3rd rounder or in a better team he’d be gone already.

Erasmus pretty much doesn’t get under 20 disposals anymore in the WAFL & is on target to do the same in the AFL with opportunity.

Gold, sounds like Erasmus is a ripper mate. Surprised he was being kept out by A graders like Fyfe and Omeara

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You obviously agree alot depends on whether WC is showing any improvement. He clearly hates losing.

So why (if he does leave) he would pick the one team almost certain to be terrible for the next few years when he has 9 other teams to choose from?

Correct.

 

[WilloTree]

Gold, sounds like Erasmus is a ripper mate. Surprised he was being kept out by A graders like Fyfe and Omeara

You're surprised he was kept out by a duel Brownlow medalist?

 

[Shueygod]

You're surprised he was kept out by a duel Brownlow medalist?

When that dual Brownlow medalist is currently a liability… yeah.

 

[jdstorm]

Playing AFL is almost like moving to another place to go uni ( uni holidays were 18 to 20 weeks in total with a 2 semester system).
So you get to live at home a fair bit anyway.
But 4000km away is different to 400km or less.
Up to Harley what he does, he may be undecided or if he wants to leave at end of 2026 now he might change his mind.

Honestly I think that proximity is why Essendon is in the conversation. Having the training ground on the edge of the city he’s only 2 hours from home to the training ground. Even less if he lives somewhere halfway. Get a nice farm 30 minutes north of the hangar at mates rates and profit as the sprawl continues to grow.

The other Melbourne teams add a fair bit of time when you factor traffic.

 

[JayJ20]

You're not going to get Reid without two top 5 picks imo, that's what he's worth.

And?

Future first rounders aren't very appealing when trading for players, I'd have thought.

Just because a club is 'expected' to go somewhere, doesn't mean they will. Especially 2 years in advance.

Also, if Essendon finish bottom four, Sam Draper is likely to leave to SA with Adelaide already mentioning they will chase him. That gives us another top 5 pick to use.

Which means we could have three 2025 first rounders, two 2025 second rounders, a 2026 first + second and a 2027 first.

If Reid were to leave and come to Essendon, it means Chad Warner could be traded to West Coast in a three-way deal.

We certainly have the draft capital to get it done.