The white noise Harley Reid has endured for months is about to end.
The Pick 1 favourite, who’s destined to be taken by the West Coast Eagles on Monday night, has been the subject ample external debate around list priorities and draft strategies for bottom-end clubs – since the start of the year all because of how talented a footballer he is.
And he’s frickin’ talented.
Gauge the thoughts of most AFL scouts and they’ll say Reid in the past decade is probably the second-best prospect to come through the pathways system behind Nick Daicos, who probably would’ve won a Brownlow in his second year had he not suffered a late-season injury. Some recruiters, though, reckon he’s the best prospect they’ve ever seen.
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Reid couldn’t have done much more in his draft year to justify the praise and labels. He kicked 5.6 and averaged 20 disposals, 13 contested possessions and a competition-high seven clearances to win Vic Country’s MVP award at the national champs. He also caught the eye playing for the AFL Academy, Bendigo Pioneers, Carlton’s VFL side, Essendon’s VFL side and Tongala this year.
Essendon coach Brad Scott was left awe-struck when he saw Reid represent the Bombers’ VFL side against Southport in August.
“He looked like a No. 1 pick. The hype is real,” Scott told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“He’s a very, very good player – a very complete player.
“There’s no discernible weakness in his game.”
A fair pump-up from a footy figure who’s seen his fair share of players come and go through the system.
But he’s also been on the receiving end of some negative coverage. There were rumblings in July that Reid and his camp had begun to privately suggest his preference would be to stay in Victoria. That report was quashed by his management, but scouts spoken to by foxfooty.com.au at the time weren’t shocked at all by the speculation.
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Then there was the discussion around Reid’s curious ‘likes’ on two Instagram posts. One that suggested the Eagles board was contemplating sacking coach Adam Simpson and another where the Eagles’ handling of Brady Hough’s late withdrawal before the western derby. Others were quick to point out Reid had also liked social media posts relating to the Eagles’ membership base reaching 100,000 and Tim Kelly winning West Coast’s best and fairest count.
A lot of attention on an 18-year-old kid from Tongala who hasn’t played an AFL game yet.
Yet when you speak to Reid, his humble country roots and laid-back attitude to life shine through. Despite all the Pick 1 hype. Despite having 37,000 Instagram followers already. Despite being ‘papped’ at Perth airport and signing Eagles fans’ gear after a national carnival game this year.
As Northern Knights forward Nate Caddy – who’s played with and against Reid since Under 12s – told foxfooty.com.au last month: “A lot of people would lose their head (with the attention), but he seems fine.”
Reid labelled the hype around him and coverage of his footy journey this year as “weird”.
“I look back at it and you see all the media about Nick Daicos when he was coming through his draft year. I looked at that then and went: ‘Whoa, I wish that was me, that’s cool.’ And then when it happens, it’s just so surreal. It doesn’t feel like it’s real,” he told foxfooty.com.au.
“I live in the moment, I’m lucky I’ve got a great support system and network back home in ‘Tonny’ (Tongala) and great friends and people around me that help me get away from that stuff, get out and get your mind away from footy, which is good to have that balance.”
Caddy was one of several draft prospects last month that declared Reid as the best player in this year’s class.
A versatile 185cm prospect from the Bendigo Pioneers, Reid has genuine power in the midfield and goalkicking ability, which has seen him draw comparisons to AFL superstars Christian Petracca and Dustin Martin.
But the extra asset Reid has is his overhead and intercept marking ability, which was showcased last year as a 17-year-old when he finished with the most intercept marks and best kicking efficiency of any Vic Country player.
“He’s obviously a freak and a gun and he’s going to go well in the AFL. I hope he dominates,” Caddy said.
Eastern Ranges goalkicker Nick Watson – another close mate – said he saw Reid’s rise coming from a young age.
“Harley’s power and strength – he loves his ‘don’t argues’ – but he has a great aspect of the game and just knows how to play. He works hard as well,” Watson told foxfooty.com.au.
Reid’s incredible physicality is the trait that has impressed his draft peers the most.
Suns academy prospect Jed Walter, who’s widely regarded as the second-best prospect of this year’s draft class, said Reid’s power was eye-catching – and that’s coming from a brute of a key forward.
“It looks like he has so much space and all the time in the world when he goes near the footy, takes a bounce. And if anyone goes near him, he just fends you off,” Walter told foxfooty.com.au.
Gippsland Power star Zane Duursma added: “I think that he’s the most developed player out of the whole draft and I think that he’s the solid choice for No. 1. He’s very strong at the contest, he’s probably the hardest man in this draft to tackle with his fend-off and powerful movement.”
Bulldogs father-son prospect Jordan Croft and Murray Bushrangers midfielder Darcy Wilson both pointed out Reid could influence games in different ways.
“He’s just a real competitor who likes to get in an under, win the hard ball then can also burst on the outside. And he’s pretty dangerous with ball in hand,” Wilson told foxfooty.com.au.
Launceston’s James Leake said Reid had been “leading the pack all year” due to his match-winning ability.
“From what I’ve seen, he’s just got that X-factor. I think that’s what has got so many clubs excited about him is he’s got that ability to tear open games and put his stamp on it,” Leake told foxfooty.com.au.
“He’s obviously extremely strong, great skills and just got that little bit of spark that you really need in a star player. He’s got those Dustin Martin traits, which have lots of people excited.”
But perhaps the highest praise for Reid came from Subiaco forward Koltyn Tholstrup, who’s also expected to be taken in the first round of the draft on Monday night.
“He’s a once in a generation talent,” Tholstrup told foxfooty.com.au.
“That stiff-arm, he’s got that power and force. His footy IQ is elite, while his kicking accuracy and ability is something else.
“He’s such a great guy off the field as well, pretty humble. He’s someone I’d want at my footy club.”
And Reid will soon officially be an Eagle.
He was asked in October how ready and willing he was to move to WA should West Coast draft him. He said he “would be happy to go over there”.
“There’s obviously going to be a challenge with moving over there – but with me, it’s going to be a challenge to move to Melbourne,” Reid said. “I haven’t left home for 18 years and I’m used to being around everyone I know there, so that challenge will be huge too and obviously take a toll.
“But everyone’s dream is to get drafted, so to have that opportunity in the first place is obviously huge.”
