Eagles bullish AFL's $2 million man will stay
Reid is contracted to West Coast until the end of 2026 but there is already a huge tug-of-war for the No.1 draft pick.
St Kilda were the latest club to throw their hat into the ring, with the Saints reportedly contemplating an offer in the vicinity of $25 million over 12 years.
The Eagles offer is rumoured to be about $24 million over 11 years - composing of an initial two-year deal with a trigger for the remaining nine.
Hawthorn, Essendon and Geelong are others to have shown interest in Reid, with Melbourne-based clubs hoping the pull-home factor will convince the Victorian to leave West Coast.
Reid's management say the 20-year-old is happy in Perth, and the Eagles are hopeful of being able to re-sign the midfield bull.
"I'm really confident Harley will be here," McQualter said on Thursday.
"Every day Harley turns up to work, he's incredibly invested in this team, this club. So yeah, I'm really optimistic that Harley will be here."
When asked to clarify whether his optimism around Reid was merely for next year or for the long term, McQualter replied: "I'm talking for a long time."
"The young man is really invested," McQualter added.
"He's working hard to make us become better, to get himself better.
"He cares about the group, cares about the club. So there's signs that point to me that he's really invested."
Questions have been raised about whether it's in the best interests of a club to commit more than $2 million a season on one player.
McQualter doesn't see any issues with it.
"Money's different to what it used to be," the former Saints and Suns tagger said.
"When I played, I got paid $48,000. So if you're asking me would I have taken $2 million - the answer is yes, I would have.
"Was I worth it? No, I think that's pretty obvious.
"But I think that's just where the game's trending. It's going up. It'll happen eventually - someone will be that player.
"There was a time when no one was a million dollar player, and that broke a record. So that'll just be what happens, and it will keep moving like that in the future."
McQualter was less bullish when it came to co-captain Oscar Allen, who as a restricted free agent is expected to sign with the Brisbane Lions.
"We're working with Oscar's management. We're still not clear where it'll be, but we're working really hard to try and make Oscar a player here for a long time," McQualter said.
The Eagles showed enormous fight in last week's nine-point loss to Adelaide, and they'll face another big task on Sunday against a star-studded Western Bulldogs attack featuring Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton at Marvel Stadium.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
37 minutes ago
- ABC News
NRL live updates: Penrith Panthers vs Melbourne Storm — blog, scores and stats
The Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm, last year's grand finalists, face off in a top-four NRL clash that could have a big impact on where each team finishes the regular season. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
No clarity for now if Saints, Bombers making progress
For Essendon and St Kilda, only time will tell. Beyond Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera lighting up Marvel Stadium again or Archie Roberts adding more weight to his Rising Star claims, Friday night's AFL clash is between two teams whose finals hopes ended weeks ago. It's what to come that will shine a fierce light on what progress is being made at Moorabbin and Tullamarine. Saints coach Ross Lyon can rail all he likes against the media speculation around his list, but can they retain Wanganeen-Milera? Can Max King recover from the knee injury that ruined his season? While they have won their last three games, the Saints' win-loss is behind where it was this time last year. Are they on track for a return to the top eight? Essendon are coming to the end of a basket case of a season, featuring so many injuries that they are fielding a glorified seconds team. It was noted this week they are finding exotic new ways to have players unavailable, with Dylan Shiel suspended for an incident where his own teammate was hurt. Their raw playing list compares favourably to St Kilda's, but culture and player development and injury management clearly are concerns. Coach Brad Scott says progress is being made. But he knows better than anyone that sounds hollow when you're 15th and as of Friday night, it will be 7650 days since Essendon won a final. "The thing is, it's only really judged in the fullness of time. You can be taking steps forward without it being noticeable," Scott said of their player development. "I've been absolutely rapt with the job that our assistant coaches have done, but I've been really reluctant to say that - because there's a scoreboard and people would say 'how can you say they've done a great job?' "Well, they have done a great job with the circumstances they've been working in." The same goes for culture, which from the outside has not looked great for a long time. "It's largely intangible. People really only measure it from wins and losses over time," Scott said. "I'm firm in the belief that we're taking good strides forward in that area, but you won't be able to see it until it's in the rearview mirror. "You want to have it happen tomorrow, but the reality is it takes some time." For Essendon and St Kilda, only time will tell. Beyond Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera lighting up Marvel Stadium again or Archie Roberts adding more weight to his Rising Star claims, Friday night's AFL clash is between two teams whose finals hopes ended weeks ago. It's what to come that will shine a fierce light on what progress is being made at Moorabbin and Tullamarine. Saints coach Ross Lyon can rail all he likes against the media speculation around his list, but can they retain Wanganeen-Milera? Can Max King recover from the knee injury that ruined his season? While they have won their last three games, the Saints' win-loss is behind where it was this time last year. Are they on track for a return to the top eight? Essendon are coming to the end of a basket case of a season, featuring so many injuries that they are fielding a glorified seconds team. It was noted this week they are finding exotic new ways to have players unavailable, with Dylan Shiel suspended for an incident where his own teammate was hurt. Their raw playing list compares favourably to St Kilda's, but culture and player development and injury management clearly are concerns. Coach Brad Scott says progress is being made. But he knows better than anyone that sounds hollow when you're 15th and as of Friday night, it will be 7650 days since Essendon won a final. "The thing is, it's only really judged in the fullness of time. You can be taking steps forward without it being noticeable," Scott said of their player development. "I've been absolutely rapt with the job that our assistant coaches have done, but I've been really reluctant to say that - because there's a scoreboard and people would say 'how can you say they've done a great job?' "Well, they have done a great job with the circumstances they've been working in." The same goes for culture, which from the outside has not looked great for a long time. "It's largely intangible. People really only measure it from wins and losses over time," Scott said. "I'm firm in the belief that we're taking good strides forward in that area, but you won't be able to see it until it's in the rearview mirror. "You want to have it happen tomorrow, but the reality is it takes some time." For Essendon and St Kilda, only time will tell. Beyond Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera lighting up Marvel Stadium again or Archie Roberts adding more weight to his Rising Star claims, Friday night's AFL clash is between two teams whose finals hopes ended weeks ago. It's what to come that will shine a fierce light on what progress is being made at Moorabbin and Tullamarine. Saints coach Ross Lyon can rail all he likes against the media speculation around his list, but can they retain Wanganeen-Milera? Can Max King recover from the knee injury that ruined his season? While they have won their last three games, the Saints' win-loss is behind where it was this time last year. Are they on track for a return to the top eight? Essendon are coming to the end of a basket case of a season, featuring so many injuries that they are fielding a glorified seconds team. It was noted this week they are finding exotic new ways to have players unavailable, with Dylan Shiel suspended for an incident where his own teammate was hurt. Their raw playing list compares favourably to St Kilda's, but culture and player development and injury management clearly are concerns. Coach Brad Scott says progress is being made. But he knows better than anyone that sounds hollow when you're 15th and as of Friday night, it will be 7650 days since Essendon won a final. "The thing is, it's only really judged in the fullness of time. You can be taking steps forward without it being noticeable," Scott said of their player development. "I've been absolutely rapt with the job that our assistant coaches have done, but I've been really reluctant to say that - because there's a scoreboard and people would say 'how can you say they've done a great job?' "Well, they have done a great job with the circumstances they've been working in." The same goes for culture, which from the outside has not looked great for a long time. "It's largely intangible. People really only measure it from wins and losses over time," Scott said. "I'm firm in the belief that we're taking good strides forward in that area, but you won't be able to see it until it's in the rearview mirror. "You want to have it happen tomorrow, but the reality is it takes some time."
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
A debt-clearing plan from current owners could be needed to save Western United
Western United's current investors are hoping to save the club from A-League extinction rather than rely on proposed new owners KAM Melbourne. Stripped of its A-League licence last Friday by Football Australia, United has until Saturday to lodge an appeal against the decision, which was made due to the financially embattled Victorian club's failure to meet the criteria required for a licence. United and its parent company Western Melbourne Group had hoped its financial woes – including a six-figure sum owed to the club's former striker Aleksandar Prijovic and a multimillion-dollar tax debt reportedly owed by United chairman Jason Sourasis – were solved by a proposed $100 million investment from KAM Melbourne that was announced in May. However, the Australian Professional Leagues, which runs the A-League, is yet to receive the completed ownership proposal from KAM Melbourne, a subsidiary of American company KAS Sports. With ongoing uncertainty about KAM Melbourne's ability to submit a viable proposal, it's understood investors that make up WMG – which is headed by Sourasis – have been advised and encouraged to pay the club's debts to ensure United's future. Paying Prijovic would lead to FIFA lifting the ban it imposed on United from registering new signings. That, as well as payment of the tax bill, would go a long towards United's appeal against being stripped off its licence being successful. United's squad continues to train at the club's Tarneit base under coach, Socceroos great John Aloisi. Under the guidance of Aloisi, United won the 2022 A-League championship, with Switzerland-born Serbian international Prijovic having played a leading role in the club's 2-0n grand final win over Melbourne City at AAMI Park. Meanwhile, Socceroos defender Jason Davidson has rejoined Melbourne Victory on a two-year deal. Davidson, 34, spent the 2021-22 season with the Victory before spend the past three years in Europe with stints at Eupen (Belgium) and Panserraikos (Greece). 'Returning to Victory after three years in Europe is incredibly exciting,' Davidson said. 'My time overseas has only made me more hungry for success. I intend to bring my best to the team, alongside the rest of the playing group, and help drive success this season.' Victory coach Arthur Diles said: 'Jason has proven his ability to be a game changer in both the A-League and on the international stage.'
