Harley Reid has well and truly arrived and the AFL world can’t get enough.
The No. 1 pick in the 2023 AFL Draft entered the league with incredibly high expectations, particularly in Western Australia, where he is daily backpage news.
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Reid, who turned 19 earlier this week, took a few weeks to find his feet playing in a struggling West Coast side that lost its opening four matches of the season.
The Victorian then gave everyone a glimpse of what’s ahead in a 27-disposal, Rising Star nomination effort in the club’s breakthrough win over Richmond last week.
The teenager then took the hype to a whole new level with some breathtaking moments in his first Western Derby against the Dockers on Saturday.
Late in the first quarter, Reid took a hanging mark in the goalsquare to kick his first goal, having split time between the midfield and the forward line.
He then earned a free kick deep in the forward line and kicked truly from a tight angle on the stroke of quarter-time as the underdog Eagles took a 22-point lead into the first break.
One of his few “blemishes” was still a highlight reel, when the powerful runner burst out of the centre to start the second term, took a bounce and watched his set shot from just inside 50m sail just to the right of the big sticks for a behind.
At the main break, the Eagles had stretched their lead to 37 points and Reid had eight disposals and four clearances to go with those two majors as the home side got a standing ovation coming from the ground.
“It’s a West Coast home game and West Coast fans have been loving every second of it … and that young man there has instilled so much hope and optimism amongst West Coast fans,” Fox Footy’s Kath Loughnan said as the camera zoomed in on Reid’s No. 9 jumper.
“He’s lit it up in his first Derby so far, two goals to his name, and it’s all smiles for Eagles fans.”
It’s become something of a running joke that Reid has featured in the West Australian newspapers just about every day since he was drafted.
It was a fact cheekily pointed out by Melbourne skipper Max Gawn, who was also watching on and tweeted simply: “Put him on the Melb papers everyday as well.”
Not for the first time this season, and certainly not the last, Reid’s name was trending all over social media and fans were searching for adequate ways to describe the blond weapon who seems to be reversing West Coast’s fortunes every week.
“Harley Reid is actually better than every other player in the Derby already isn’t he,” Triple M’s Rudi Edsall wrote on X.
“Amazing how one player can completely change a football team,” wrote Brad Kilbansky.
Another user simply added: “Harley Reid is HIM.”
West Coast fans on X were finding it hard to believe what they were witnessing at a club that finished second last and last over the past two seasons with five measly wins combined.
“He’s making this club relevant again, what a player,” was one comment. “Rising Star, Brownlow, All-Australian, MVP, I’ve seen enough.
“I will sell all my belongings to ensure Harley Reid is an Eagle for life,” quipped another.
“It’s Harley Reid then daylight to the next best. Kid is going to be a monster,” added a third.
“Harley Reid will fast-track the Eagles rebuild by 1-2 years. His presence has given the whole club a clear vision it can be successful sooner rather than later,” was another take.
“Harley Reid is legit something out of this world. Just a beast,” wrote another.
All this and the match is just entering the start of the third term.