List Mgmt. Welcome Harley Reid (Pick 1, 2023 National Draft)

[eaglevision]

 

[Convocation]

Anyone have access to this article from Duff?

 

[Keys]

View attachment 1892496Anyone have access to this article from Duff?

To paraphrase- be wary of pushing Reid into the midfield too much too soon

For hope-starved West Coast fans still recovering from the two worst seasons in club history, “the Harley Reid hype is real” proclamation after the No. 1 pick excelled in a match simulation on Wednesday was cause for genuine optimism.
This was more than just the media buzz that started, and has grown increasingly deafening, as soon as he touched down at Perth Airport.

This was Reid doing what he is meant to do: play footy very well.

And it begs a broader question: just what is a fair and reasonable expectation of a teenager who has already had more attention before playing a game than most draftees receive in their entire first season?

Collingwood’s Nick Daicos makes for an intriguing comparison given he has shifted the needle significantly on what is considered possible for a first year player in the AFL. Daicos, who made his debut two months after his 19th birthday in 2022, played all 25 of Collingwood’s 22 matches and averaged better than 25 disposals per game for the Magpies in a stunning debut season

He was unlucky to miss All-Australians election and finished seventh in Collingwood’s best and fairest – and even that felt a little low with Daicos one slot below Patrick Lipinski in the count.

Daicos did have a couple of things in his favour when he started. The environment at Collingwood was familiar to him. His father is a legend there and his older brother Josh had been at the club for five seasons. Nick had been in and around the club for some time and everyone knew he was going to end up there. He was already part of the furniture.

And with young players it is not just about how well you play but also what style of footballer you are.

Daicos is above all other things a ball user. The Pies were able to start him at half back and were quick to realise that the ball in his hands was a good thing for them. He is, of course, much more than just a receiver and proved that in a stellar second season in the competition which included shifts into the midfield, polling 28 votes in the Brownlow Medal.

He finished equal second in the Magpies best and fairest behind brother Josh and won All-Australian honours.

Reid has talent and skill but also shapes as a more combative footballer, which can make the early seasons in the AFL more challenging for a teenager.

In 2020, Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell took the competition by storm in the first month of the season, polling three Brownlow votes in three of his first AFL games. But a crushing tackle in the fierce inside midfield battle against Geelong in round five left him with a season ending shoulder injury.

Then an awkward landing on a knee in round one of season two against West Coast in Perth cost Rowell three months of football in 2021.

Life is tough for a young inside midfielder in the AFL against seasoned midfielders.

Even if you are better than them, they are better physically prepared than you.

It makes Joel Selwood’s 2007 season all the more remarkable. Selwood, a warrior from game one of his 355 AFL games, played 21 of Geelong’s 25 and became a valued part of a premiership midfield from the start.

But, like Daicos, he had some things in his favour. Four of the All-Australian midfield that season were Cats – Gary Ablett junior, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey and Cameron Ling. A fifth, Steve Johnson, was named at half forward in the All-Australian team but spent time in and around the middle for the Cats, too. Selwood had good company for support.

One of few West Coast players to experience anything like the hype that Reid has experienced since his arrival was Chris Judd, who also had good midfield support with Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr, Andrew Embley in and around the engine room in his first year, 2002.

udd made his debut in round two against Collingwood after being eased into footy against men in the WAFL at East Perth in round one. The WAFL never saw him again. He played the rest of the season in the Eagles, mainly off a wing. He averaged 15 disposals but more significantly kicked 21 goals. By his second season, he had become the Eagles main midfield weapon and by his third was a Brownlow Medallist.

Adam Simpson has already declared his intention to play Reid mainly off half back with visits to the midfield – a smart decision that will give Reid some protection from the brutal and relentless bump and grind of the inside midfield battle.

But Simpson’s will to protect Reid will be tested if he gets injuries to midfielders or if Reid’s performance is such that he clearly commands a midfield berth.

 

[Convocation]

To paraphrase- be wary of pushing Reid into the midfield too much too soon

Thanks Keys, greatly appreciated

 

[Priddis Is Done]

Could be a nice match up first game against port, Willie Rioli, maybe some JHF action or SPP

Reid to dack Rioli and expose the pot he has hidden amongst the crown jewels.

Rioli smokes pot.

 

[dkalphy]

He hasnt followed Hewitt on IG yet, this in my opinion is an issue

 

[EagleMan87]

He hasnt followed Hewitt on IG yet, this in my opinion is an issue

Does he follow Hewett though?

 

[dkalphy]

Does he follow Hewett though?

no

 

[Keys]

He hasnt followed Hewitt on IG yet, this in my opinion is an issue

How so alphy?

 

[Spooky17]

Just saw Harley at the Karrinyup Shops. He’s so much taller than I thought. I asked him how he’s finding Perth so far and his reply was ‘wicked’. Awesome bloke.

 

[Get_The_Gaff]

Just saw Harley at the Karrinyup Shops. He’s so much taller than I thought. I asked him how he’s finding Perth so far and his reply was ‘wicked’. Awesome bloke.

Not surprised the clunge walking around karrinyup shops is next level

 

[JerryWexler]

I liken him to more of De Goey type, explosive out of the pack and can kick goals

Yep, that's how I see him.

 

[Spooky17]

Not surprised the clunge walking around karrinyup shops is next level

I didn’t see Alec or Jake Waterman there, so Harley at least has a chance.

 

[eaglespremiers]

Just saw Harley at the Karrinyup Shops. He’s so much taller than I thought. I asked him how he’s finding Perth so far and his reply was ‘wicked’. Awesome bloke.

And we're just supposed to believe that Harley now has human interactions post-draft, right?
You should post this on the North board and see what their thoughts are. I reckon they'll be pretty sceptical.

 

[Doashuey]

He hasnt followed Hewitt on IG yet, this in my opinion is an issue

So hard to tell with you if serious or sarcastic. Could go either way.

 

[bzparkes]

So hard to tell with you if serious or sarcastic. Could go either way.

It's ok, he was standing next to him in team photo day, no alarm bells just yet.

 

[flyinghi64]

Would Harley's be the most anticipated first game for an Eagle recruit?
Surpassing Judd and probably NicNat as probably being the only others to come with this amount of hype.

I would say that with the past few seasons we have had and the general spread of youth we now have, YES.

 

[Cuzz09]

Judd had no hype that I can remember.

NicNat did for sure.

Harley has 50 x nicnat hype

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[boondy]

Hi guys, you might like some of this content on Harley just published on Youtube.
Ticked off that I wasn't able to complete any documentary work with Harley last year myself.
In discussions with the Pioneers to hopefully do some video content this year, but there's a lot of hoops to jump through to make it happen.

With all the flight risk garbage touted by media , what if the reverse happens . Who wouldn't want to come here and train / play along side this bloke here in W A .
Back at ya . Might be the genius of not splitting the pick .

 

[flyinghi64]

Judd had no hype that I can remember.

NicNat did for sure.

Harley has 50 x nicnat hype

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Judd had a little hype I think.
Would have went clear first if not for his shoulders.
After one WAFL game the coach basically said, well that's the last time we'll see him playing WAFL.
But coming into an already good team on the way up would have helped ease the pressure and hype.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Judd had a little hype I think.
Would have went clear first if not for his shoulders.
After one WAFL game the coach basically said, well that's the last time we'll see him playing WAFL.
But coming into an already good team on the way up would have helped ease the pressure and hype.

Yeah I can't remember much hype about Juddy at all. Even after that murderous WAFL game he played it was just a regular 'Here's the new kid Chris Judd' when we played Collingwood at the G

 

[FKASC]

Yeah I can't remember much hype about Juddy at all. Even after that murderous WAFL game he played it was just a regular 'Here's the new kid Chris Judd' when we played Collingwood at the G

That’s because afl media wasn’t a draft mega hype machine back then

 

[Bestbird]

The day 18-year-old Judd tore West Perth apart

The dual Brownlow medallist made his one-and-only WAFL appearance for East Perth one to remember.

thewest.com.au

 

[Wild Kelly]

The day 18-year-old Judd tore West Perth apart

The dual Brownlow medallist made his one-and-only WAFL appearance for East Perth one to remember.

thewest.com.au

One of 3 players to go on and win 4 Brownlows between them after playing for the Mighty Royals!!

 

[garlic munchers]

To paraphrase- be wary of pushing Reid into the midfield too much too soon

Will be happy if Harley just plays all 23 WC games this year, with no pressure to emulate Nick Daicos's achievements of playing "all 25 of Collingwood’s 22 matches".

 

[DanWCE]

Hates it