No Harley spells big problems for struggling Eagles
Reid's future remains a huge talking point, with the 20-year-old's manager in deep talks with West Coast about a possible contract extension.
There are reports Reid could command in the vicinity of $24m over 11 years - numbers that have never been seen before in the AFL.
West Coast are being urged against committing such a large sum to a single player.
But such is the on-and-off field worth of Reid, the Eagles may end up doing a deal worth in the vicinity of $20m.
Harley Reid is an absolute star 🤩#AFLFreoEagles pic.twitter.com/5Ks3YpwkMy
— AFL (@AFL) July 26, 2025
Reid has been one of West Coast's best players this season, but he'll miss the final four matches of the campaign with a syndesmosis injury.
Given West Coast are also without Elliot Yeo (ankle) and Jack Graham (suspension), the Eagles will roll out their weakest midfield of the season against Melbourne's star-studded on-ball brigade at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Tim Kelly and Liam Baker are the remaining old heads that could be employed in West Coast's engine room this week, with youngsters such as Elijah Hewett, Clay Hall, Brady Hough and Tom Gross set to be handed a big responsibility over the back-end of the season.
Reid is contracted for 2026, but there's no guarantee he will stay long term.
Even when Reid was playing, West Coast were by far the worst clearance team in the league this season.
It means there could be plenty of pain in store when the Eagles round out their season with games against Melbourne, Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Sydney.
"It's not easy, but it's been like that for most of the year," Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said.
"So we've seen great growth. We've seen Elijah Hewett, We've seen Brady Hough grow.
"We've seen Clay Hall come and play through the midfield.
"So sometimes when you're put in a position where we have been, it's not been short-term benefit, but it will be long-term benefit."
West Coast (1-18) are headed for their third wooden spoon in the space of three years.
But all of the heat on Saturday will be on the 6-13 Demons, who coughed up a 46-point three-quarter time lead in last week's six-point loss to St Kilda.
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is under all sorts of pressure, and former Demons assistant McQualter is expecting his old club to come out firing.
West Coast welcome back key defender Harry Edwards (hamstring), while the Demons will unveil former Eagle Jai Culley.
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