Wooden spoon Eagles bank on Reid to stick around
The Eagles slumped to their eighth consecutive defeat on Saturday night when they imploded in the third quarter on the way to a 49-point loss to fellow strugglers Richmond.
West Coast trailed by just nine points at halftime before Richmond piled on eight goals to one in a devastating third-quarter blitz to run away with the 16.9 (105) to 8.8 (56) win.
Reid racked up a whopping 20 disposals and six clearances in the first half, but he was restricted to just four possessions in the third quarter after Jack Ross was sent to him as a hard tag.
Even Richmond coach Adem Yze said he felt "sorry for the kid" given Reid, at just 20, is now the No.1 target for opposition taggers.
West Coast (1-17) are destined to collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three seasons, and Reid has tasted just six victories in his 38-game career.
Reid is contracted until the end of 2026, but the depths of West Coast's despair has raised questions about whether the Victorian will re-sign.
McQualter doesn't think West Coast's plight will put Reid off from staying, however.
"I think if you see Harley and the way he's invested, he's absolutely in and he's a competitor," McQualter said.
"He's wanting to do everything to get this club out of this position.
"Nobody likes losing, I appreciate that part of it. We're all sick to death of it to be honest.
"But we're the only people that can make a change. It's people inside the four walls that can get us out of here and we have to do it together."
Once Reid was tagged on Saturday night, West Coast had no other midfielder stand up.
It was a far different scenario last year when Elliot Yeo - who has missed all of this season with an ankle injury - was there to provide Reid with big-bodied support.
"We are aware that we've got a 20-year-old carrying our midfield," McQualter said.
"It's not an easy position for him. As a team we have to find more people and players and ways to not rely on one person.
"I thought Harley was by far our best player tonight.
"I loved his team-first approach, the way he attacked the ball. He was inspirational to his teammates. I love the way he went about it."
Reid tallied just seven disposals in the second half, but he managed to kick two goals when he was sent into attack in the last quarter.
"It wasn't too much fun. He didn't like it," Ross said of his tagging job on Reid.
"Harley had an unbelievable first half ... but I like the challenge. He's a hell of a player.
"He took me to places of the ground I haven't been yet. A great talent."
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