Expected AFL No.1 draft pick Harley Reid insists he is prepared to go anywhere to start his career, including interstate to West Coast.
The Eagles hold the coveted selection but North Melbourne and Hawthorn are among the clubs exploring trades up the order to secure Victorian Reid, widely considered the standout draft prospect.
Clubs will be wary of the “go-home factor” when selecting interstate prospects after South Australian Jason Horne-Francis, North Melbourne’s 2021 No.1 pick, requested a trade to Port Adelaide after just one season.
When asked if he’d be happy to go to Western Australia, Reid, who hails from the country town of Tongala, near Echuca, said: “Yeah … I’ll be happy anywhere.
“At this time, like there’s still a bit to play out.
“So what happens, happens – really haven’t thought too far ahead.
“Obviously, wherever I go, wherever it is, like even Melbourne’s gonna be a challenge for me to move.
“For 18 years I’ve been in a small country town and haven’t left my family so it’ll obviously be challenging even if I move to Melbourne.”
Reid didn’t take part in testing at the draft combine, due to a niggling knee injury, but spoke to “five or six” clubs.
He was confident the setback wouldn’t affect him come pre-season.
Harley Reid in action during the 2023 U18 Boys Championships. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Reid has spoken to former No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan about what awaits him on draft night on November 20.
“It’s obviously a huge honour to go pick one and I know a lot comes with it, as I’ve experienced,” Reid said.
“It’s not certain that I’ll go pick one yet but obviously it’s been in my mind to have that goal and I’ve really enjoyed every part of it.”
Key forward Jed Walter is a member of Gold Coast’s Academy, with the Suns destined to match any early bid on him.
Walter has already spoken with new Suns mentor Damien Hardwick.
“I’ve met him a couple of times – spoke to him again today, which was good,” he said.
“Obviously he’s an unreal coach – look at his resume, a three-time premiership coach.
“But it’s pretty exciting times for the Suns. I mean, they’ve always struggled a little bit but I think they’re finally about to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Inside midfielder Ryley Sanders is a part of North Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy – but if another club, as expected, bids on him inside the top 20, the Kangaroos cannot match it.
Sanders was potentially going to be part of the AFL’s assistance package to the Kangaroos but that didn’t eventuate.
The Tasmanian said he was “happy to go anywhere”.
nics
Roar Rookie
Exactly. If he’s any good, we’ll extract a fair price in 3 years time. If we don’t draft him, it’ll be because we ended up with at least 2 decent first-rounders (and I’m not >pick 15). I’m not overly concerned either way. Re memberships, I’m not overly concerned. We’ve had 2 pretty poor seasons, and yet: “Collingwood (106,470), West Coast Eagles (103,275), and Richmond (101,349) led the 2023 membership tallies with all three clubs surpassing 100,000 members and Collingwood setting a new all-time AFL club record with 106,470 members.” Attendances remained steady (35.9k, up from 30.2k last season). Those are the facts for the realists among us.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
As was once said, the Yarra is the only river in Australia that flows upside down. It's okay though, Melbourne has laneways, beautiful places to be robbed in.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Mmm the murky brown Yarra sure does look inviting.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Haven't yet seen a comment where you weren't impressively wrong. Must have gone by a different log in before.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Just me that thinks the blue water of the Swan is more inviting than the brown Yarra? Waves always look shit at St.kilda? Suppose can go for a drive on days off.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Bit over all this Reid Curtin talk. Also everyone talking about the Reid go home factor what about Curtin? Either way we need way more than those two to get us on the right path.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Blokes like this really are shameless . . . and ignorant. Probably never left the state of W.A. in his life.
mwm
Roar Pro
‘Melbourne can’t compete with our beaches or Swan river’ - ????.,,most WA thing I’ve heard in a while.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
This is new ground for WC though. Never before have they looked so far off the pace. Fading veterans, some decent yet unproven youngsters and very, very little in that middle age bracket. Can't see them bouncing as they have in the past. Be interesting to see how their fan base accepts being cellar dwellars for a lengthy period which is what I'm expecting. 2 years could very easily become 5 or 6.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Might not be too. Hasn't looked better than Reid in under-age games. And we need more young mids than we do young backman.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Picks 2 and 3 should get it done. But doesn't look like North will have 3. So there's nothing out there worth accepting. Take the best player in our biggest area of need. Get 3 years to show him a packed Optus of eagles fans is better than a half/half MCG... not to mention melb can't compete with our beaches or Swan River... if he is still wanting to go back to Vic metro someone will have to sell the farm.
Laurie
Roar Rookie
Might be better off long term with Daniel Curtin
Tony Taylor
"Top AFL draft prospect Harley Reid confirms he has no issues in heading west" - Has a potential No.1 draft pick ever not said the same thing?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Eagles don’t muck around. Drop savagely but then bounce back quickly. If they take him he stays three years now doesn’t he?
WestraliaForever
Roar Rookie
This is a difficult one for the Eagles. Split the number 1 in a trade presumably with the Roos or take someone said to be a generational talent? Don't want the Eagles to end up like the Dockers missing out on the likes of McLeod or Luke Hodge, but I think two or three high picks must be better than a single number 1 pick. I think there are so many uncertainties in sport, more picks may be better.