We've got your back: Eagles vow to protect Harley Reid
Reid produced his best display of the season in last week's 26-point loss to Port Adelaide, tallying a team-high 27 disposals and six clearances to go with a goal.
But the performance didn't come without controversy, with Reid fined $6250 for a kick-trip on Travis Boak that Essendon legend James Hird said deserved to be a three or four-week suspension.
Reid's heated battle with Port star Jason Horne-Francis was also a big talking point.
The young Eagle reportedly sledged the Port star with words to the effect of "go back to mummy, you left after one year", in reference to Horne-Francis lasting just one season at North Melbourne before seeking a trade back to his home state of South Australia.
It came a week after Reid was physically targeted by GWS players during his heated battle with star Giants midfielder Tom Green.
Young Eagles midfielder Clay Hall said he and his teammates would have Reid's back in Saturday's clash with Richmond.
"That's something I'd love to do for someone who is a fellow draftee of mine," Hall said.
"We're the same age, and to watch how much he cops it on the field and then off the field as well in terms of media, it's a little bit unfair at times.
"So we'll support him as much as we can. He's one of my best mates around the club."
Reid has given away a whopping 52 free kicks across 17 games this season, and he has now been fined 13 times so far in his 37-game career, as well as copping a two-week ban for a dangerous tackle last year.
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter is doing his best to encourage Reid to maintain his intense competitiveness while playing within the rules.
"Me and his coaches and his teammates, we all talk to him and we're all working really hard behind closed doors," McQualter said.
"We're not playing everything out publicly with Harley.
"I know there have been some things that have been a bit of a distraction and take away a little bit from his game, and we acknowledge that, and he acknowledged that last week.
"But he's actually playing some pretty strong football at the moment."
If West Coast (1-16) are any hope to avoid the wooden spoon, they simply must defeat 17th-placed Richmond (4-13).
The Eagles have recalled midfielder Tim Kelly following his one-week stint in the WAFL, while Liam Ryan and Jack Petruccelle are the other inclusions, with Elijah Hewett rested.
Richmond beware - West Coast players will have Harley Reid's back if the Tigers attempt to go after the young Eagles star in Saturday night's cellar-dweller clash at Optus Stadium.
Reid produced his best display of the season in last week's 26-point loss to Port Adelaide, tallying a team-high 27 disposals and six clearances to go with a goal.
But the performance didn't come without controversy, with Reid fined $6250 for a kick-trip on Travis Boak that Essendon legend James Hird said deserved to be a three or four-week suspension.
Reid's heated battle with Port star Jason Horne-Francis was also a big talking point.
The young Eagle reportedly sledged the Port star with words to the effect of "go back to mummy, you left after one year", in reference to Horne-Francis lasting just one season at North Melbourne before seeking a trade back to his home state of South Australia.
It came a week after Reid was physically targeted by GWS players during his heated battle with star Giants midfielder Tom Green.
Young Eagles midfielder Clay Hall said he and his teammates would have Reid's back in Saturday's clash with Richmond.
"That's something I'd love to do for someone who is a fellow draftee of mine," Hall said.
"We're the same age, and to watch how much he cops it on the field and then off the field as well in terms of media, it's a little bit unfair at times.
"So we'll support him as much as we can. He's one of my best mates around the club."
Reid has given away a whopping 52 free kicks across 17 games this season, and he has now been fined 13 times so far in his 37-game career, as well as copping a two-week ban for a dangerous tackle last year.
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter is doing his best to encourage Reid to maintain his intense competitiveness while playing within the rules.
"Me and his coaches and his teammates, we all talk to him and we're all working really hard behind closed doors," McQualter said.
"We're not playing everything out publicly with Harley.
"I know there have been some things that have been a bit of a distraction and take away a little bit from his game, and we acknowledge that, and he acknowledged that last week.
"But he's actually playing some pretty strong football at the moment."
If West Coast (1-16) are any hope to avoid the wooden spoon, they simply must defeat 17th-placed Richmond (4-13).
The Eagles have recalled midfielder Tim Kelly following his one-week stint in the WAFL, while Liam Ryan and Jack Petruccelle are the other inclusions, with Elijah Hewett rested.
Richmond beware - West Coast players will have Harley Reid's back if the Tigers attempt to go after the young Eagles star in Saturday night's cellar-dweller clash at Optus Stadium.
Reid produced his best display of the season in last week's 26-point loss to Port Adelaide, tallying a team-high 27 disposals and six clearances to go with a goal.
But the performance didn't come without controversy, with Reid fined $6250 for a kick-trip on Travis Boak that Essendon legend James Hird said deserved to be a three or four-week suspension.
Reid's heated battle with Port star Jason Horne-Francis was also a big talking point.
The young Eagle reportedly sledged the Port star with words to the effect of "go back to mummy, you left after one year", in reference to Horne-Francis lasting just one season at North Melbourne before seeking a trade back to his home state of South Australia.
It came a week after Reid was physically targeted by GWS players during his heated battle with star Giants midfielder Tom Green.
Young Eagles midfielder Clay Hall said he and his teammates would have Reid's back in Saturday's clash with Richmond.
"That's something I'd love to do for someone who is a fellow draftee of mine," Hall said.
"We're the same age, and to watch how much he cops it on the field and then off the field as well in terms of media, it's a little bit unfair at times.
"So we'll support him as much as we can. He's one of my best mates around the club."
Reid has given away a whopping 52 free kicks across 17 games this season, and he has now been fined 13 times so far in his 37-game career, as well as copping a two-week ban for a dangerous tackle last year.
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter is doing his best to encourage Reid to maintain his intense competitiveness while playing within the rules.
"Me and his coaches and his teammates, we all talk to him and we're all working really hard behind closed doors," McQualter said.
"We're not playing everything out publicly with Harley.
"I know there have been some things that have been a bit of a distraction and take away a little bit from his game, and we acknowledge that, and he acknowledged that last week.
"But he's actually playing some pretty strong football at the moment."
If West Coast (1-16) are any hope to avoid the wooden spoon, they simply must defeat 17th-placed Richmond (4-13).
The Eagles have recalled midfielder Tim Kelly following his one-week stint in the WAFL, while Liam Ryan and Jack Petruccelle are the other inclusions, with Elijah Hewett rested.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
WAFL 2025: East Perth belt West Coast as they look to cement top-three finish for finals
WAFL 2025: East Perth belt West Coast as they look to cement top-three finish for finals
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
McQualter left questioning his side after brutal Demons loss
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has questioned his team's toughness in the wake of another thumping loss, an 83-point defeat to Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. 'We're not tough enough at all as a football club, as a football team at the moment,' McQualter said. 'That's got nothing to do with age. That's something that we just can't accept.' The Eagles officially claimed their third wooden spoon in a game where the Demons won contested possession 145-103. McQualter said he might have to revert to an old-school, physical approach to training with games coming up against top-of-the-table Adelaide, a rampaging Western Bulldogs and Sydney to finish of the season. 'It's a good question. We might have to (go old school), because at the moment, when you get performances like that, you have to improve them by training,' he said. 'That might be what we have to do. It's intent, it's desire. We've got to put the right plans in place and put the people in the right places, but there's too many times where it's not at the level required.' Melbourne kicked 10 goals in the third term, but McQualter said the loss wasn't just about one quarter. 'Disappointing game, not the way we wanted to play today,' he said. 'I think it was a bit more than that (one quarter) today, clearly at the moment the gap between our best and our worst is far too great and we can't handle it. 'Teams have momentum against us, and the scoreboard just flows too easily. We have to find ways to do it better.' The Demons had 58 forward entries and McQualter said the back six did not handle the pressure. 'I thought we were beaten in that area of the ground today. 'I thought we gave way too many free kicks and I thought they scored a little bit too easily at times. But that's not just on the backs. That's on the whole team, but I don't think we had many winners on the ground today. 'It was pretty broad today, I think first half clearly ... we couldn't compete in the air, it was a pretty big thing in the game in the first half. 'We adjusted that a bit, took the game away from that space a little bit, but we got beaten by 40-somethig (42) contests, you can't compete in AFL football with that.' Liam Ryan finished the game with staples in his head, but passed an HIA test during the game, while forward Archer Reid left the ground late with what appearad to be sore ribs. 'Hopefully it's not too serious, but I haven't really got an update on it yet. He's a bit sore at the moment.' The Eagles coach said the team needed to get something out of the final three rounds. 'We have to be better than we were today, because we've got three tough opponents coming up. 'We have to challenge our team, our coaches, our staff, our club, that we still need to improve clearly, and the next three weeks is more opportunity to do that, so we'll just review this game the same way as we do, we'll get really clear on what we're going after. 'But we need to close the gap on our best and our worst. That's a big thing we're going to focus on the next three weeks.'
West Australian
8 hours ago
- West Australian
West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter says his side are not tough enough after Melbourne thumping
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has questioned his team's toughness in the wake of another thumping loss, an 83-point defeat to Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. 'We're not tough enough at all as a football club, as a football team at the moment,' McQualter said. 'That's got nothing to do with age. That's something that we just can't accept.' The Eagles officially claimed their third wooden spoon in a game where the Demons won contested possession 145-103. McQualter said he might have to revert to an old-school, physical approach to training with games coming up against top-of-the-table Adelaide, a rampaging Western Bulldogs and Sydney to finish of the season. 'It's a good question. We might have to (go old school), because at the moment, when you get performances like that, you have to improve them by training,' he said. 'That might be what we have to do. It's intent, it's desire. We've got to put the right plans in place and put the people in the right places, but there's too many times where it's not at the level required.' Melbourne kicked 10 goals in the third term, but McQualter said the loss wasn't just about one quarter. 'Disappointing game, not the way we wanted to play today,' he said. 'I think it was a bit more than that (one quarter) today, clearly at the moment the gap between our best and our worst is far too great and we can't handle it. 'Teams have momentum against us, and the scoreboard just flows too easily. We have to find ways to do it better.' The Demons had 58 forward entries and McQualter said the back six did not handle the pressure. 'I thought we were beaten in that area of the ground today. 'I thought we gave way too many free kicks and I thought they scored a little bit too easily at times. But that's not just on the backs. That's on the whole team, but I don't think we had many winners on the ground today. 'It was pretty broad today, I think first half clearly ... we couldn't compete in the air, it was a pretty big thing in the game in the first half. 'We adjusted that a bit, took the game away from that space a little bit, but we got beaten by 40-somethig (42) contests, you can't compete in AFL football with that.' Liam Ryan finished the game with staples in his head, but passed an HIA test during the game, while forward Archer Reid left the ground late with what appearad to be sore ribs. 'Hopefully it's not too serious, but I haven't really got an update on it yet. He's a bit sore at the moment.' The Eagles coach said the team needed to get something out of the final three rounds. 'We have to be better than we were today, because we've got three tough opponents coming up. 'We have to challenge our team, our coaches, our staff, our club, that we still need to improve clearly, and the next three weeks is more opportunity to do that, so we'll just review this game the same way as we do, we'll get really clear on what we're going after. 'But we need to close the gap on our best and our worst. That's a big thing we're going to focus on the next three weeks.'
