Harley Reid set to spend second AFL season with West Coast Eagles under a very unique microscope

 

Harley Reid went to a wedding last week.

Among a group of current and former West Coast teammates, Reid enjoyed what he presumed would be a private evening celebrating Tom Barrass’s nuptials. He might have had a drink or two, or maybe he didn’t. It’s not really for us to know.

But what we do know, thanks to the intrusive lens of an unknown wedding guest, is that Reid at some point sat next to and spoke to Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.

Occam’s Razor was quick to work reaching a conclusion that the most sought-after young footballer of his generation will be wearing brown and gold sooner rather than later.

Until next week, when Essendon will become the front runner. A caller into 6PR will soon after have it on good authority he’s about to sign a 15-year deal at West Coast. Don’t discount Geelong either, which is kinda close to Tongala, maybe, if you squint.

This is the atmosphere within which Harley Reid will be hoping to build a sophomore AFL season to rival and — could you imagine? — even surpass his first. It is a seriously imposing ask.

 

It has been noticeable that West Coast has made moves to pull Reid out of the limelight over the summer months, no doubt in reaction to the absurd and at times disrespectful coverage afforded him by some throughout 2024.

But even so, a player of his quality and a profile of such significance will find the limelight like a moth. With a bit of help from social media and regular eyeball emoji-ing by journos and ex-players on podcasts, there will be no escape for Reid in 2025.

Is it reasonable to expect a teenager to thrive on the football field under such circumstances?