Harley Reid is the AFL’s man of the moment and already box office viewing, but the teenager isn’t heading to the Gold Coast for West Coast’s clash with the Suns on Sunday.
The No. 1 pick in last year’s Draft, Reid has featured in all six of the Eagles’ games to date, including consecutive wins over Richmond and Fremantle to spark life into the West Australian club.
West Coast finished last and second-last over the past two seasons and hadn’t won two straight games since rounds 18 and 19 in 2021.
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The 19-year-old Reid pulled off a series of head-turning moments against the Dockers, but he has been rested for Sunday’s clash at People First Stadium.
Instead, he has headed home to Tongala in northern Victoria.
“Harley has been fantastic for us over the first six weeks,” West Coast football manager Gavin Bell said on the club’s website.
“But we feel it is appropriate to manage him this week to give him the best chance to continue to be available and play at a high level for the remainder of 2024.
“The physical and mental demands to play, recover, prepare, train and play again are significant on younger players and so taking a weekend off will give him a chance to manage his body and energy levels as he adapts to his first full season of AFL football.”
Bell said the club had always planned to stagger Reid’s rookie season and added “family reasons” were also behind the move.
“We have been consistent in our position that it is unrealistic for Harley to come in and play 23 AFL games,” he said.
“And so we manage him accordingly and look forward to him returning for the home game against Essendon on Saturday May 4.
“For family reasons Harley will return home and spend some time in Victoria this weekend.”
Considering Reid’s form and the rapid improvement of the team, the news was not met well by a wide range of footy fans.
“Seriously why?” one wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “He’s a young fit man with huge momentum … another (what the hell) moment from our team.”
“Could’ve won 3 in a row,” wrote another. “This is silly, way to ruin any momentum for not only him but the team.”
“He’s fit and in form and there (sic) resting him. Plenty of time for this later in the season or when his form dips. Crazy decision,” added a third.
“What a load of old tosh, 6 games in a super fit 19 year old’s 1st season & he needs to be managed?” wrote another.
Another suggested a different reason for the move.
“Sore shoulders from holding up the rest of the team,” they wrote.
Just six games into his career, Reid has faced regular speculation over whether he will commit his long-term future to his new club.
Reid is already set for a massive pay rise after his rookie deal expires after 2026, tipped to be more than $1 million per season.
The excitement machine’s decision to celebrate his first goal in the AFL by tugging on his West Coast jumper against the Swans in round four was viewed by some as a sign he was all-in with the Eagles.
The Eagles won AFL premierships in 1992, 1994, 2006 and 2018, but have fallen on hard times since that last flag.
“(It was) just to show I’m not here individually, I’m here to play for the team, I’m here to play for the group and I’m here to play for the club,” Reid told Channel 7 of that moment.
“Because there’s such great history behind (the club) … and it’s done so much for me early days.
“The grab of (the jumper) was just to show that I’m staying around to hopefully bring this club back to where it should be.”
Still, speculation over Reid’s future prompted one X user to make a cheeky suggestion about his weekend trip back home.
“Meeting with Victorian teams already?” they wrote.