Speculation Harley Reid [OOC 2026]

[Pure_Ownage]

If Essendon doesn’t trade Melbournes future first on draft night and they finish bottom 5 next year, I also think Essendon is definitely finishing bottom 4 next year too. Sam Draper goes to Adelaide and we get first band compensation.
I think Essendon can get Harley Reid and west coast would be persuaded to trade him with that draft capital Essendon would have. Espically with so many top wa prospects in next years draft and Chad Warner, Kossie Picket very gettable players.

Obviously lots to play out, but the main thing would be to convince Harley Reid we’re the club for him. If Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood were in for him I’d be 100% sure he’d want to leave west coast for them but Essendon would really have to show big ambitions to lure him. I also actually think he’s happy at west coast too, so to potentially leave a rebuilding club to join another rebuilding club could be tricky.

I personally would trade two top 5 picks for him, and I think that’s probably about his price, given the context of the top end wa prospects and Kossie and Chad on the market. Essendon also would have the cap space too facilitate this deal too, with Redman, Parish, Mckay, Gresham, Langford, Ridley, Merrett frond ended Contract extensions would be below what we’ve paid for them the last couple years. Add in the retirements/delistings of Shiel, Stringer, Heppell, Kelly, Goldstein, potentially Laverde, and we’d have the biggest warchest of cap space.

If everything plays out like the above, which I think is not unrealistic, Essendon should definelty trade for Harley, he’d have a transformative impact on our club, he’s a once in a generation talent, his ceiling is Dusty Martin, and Essendon have not had an A list talent since Hird, could argue Watson, but I defo would trade for Reid but I think I’m in the minority as Essendon fans probably would take that draft hand over trading for Harley. Either way, if Harley stays at west coast I think that’s huge for them and shows they’re not impacted by the go home factor.

Band 1 compensation for Draper? Adelaide list manager would be sacked on the spot.

 

[Call Me Cake]

Band 1 compensation for Draper? Adelaide list manager would be sacked on the spot.

You do know it isn't the Adelaide list manager who decides the band right?

 

[stallon]

You do know it isn't the Adelaide list manager who decides the band right?

The Adelaide list manager actually does decide what salary to offer prospective players

 

[Call Me Cake]

The Adelaide list manager actually does decide what salary to offer prospective players

That's not what I said. I said the band that the AFL decides is appropriate based on it is their doing, not Adelaide.

As for the salary itself, that is influenced by a lot of factors, such as being a factor in a player's decision to move, supply and demand of players in said position + their potential, as well as influencing the original club not to match.

All of those and more play their part in payments, and what you think deserves band 1 or not in terms of compensation itself (which by the way is based the original club's ladder position) is something you take up with the AFL, not Adelaide.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You do know it isn't the Adelaide list manager who decides the band right?

For any club to pay anywhere near that much for Draper is sackable.