There has been plenty of negative media spotlight on Harley Reid this season as he's struggled to provide the other-worldly moments he dazzled the AFL with in his captivating rookie season. The focus and mass scrutiny of his fiery on-field antics, while good for creating a controversial debate, is irrelevant to the larger conversation to be had.
Sure, those are hot-headed moments but they demonstrate his passion for the game and how his lacklustre performances have been frustrating for him. That's more of a positive than negative.
However, there is a harsh truth to acknowledge for Eagles fans. Reid has underperformed relative to his lofty standards this season, struggling against physical taggers in the midfield.
Per Wheelo Ratings player rating scores, Reid's Round 2 and 3 performances were the third and fifth worst games respectively in his short 23-game career so far. His disposal efficiency has dropped from 72% in 2024 to 64.3% (-7.7%), and he's linking up with teammates via handball chains significantly less often, averaging just 5.7 handballs per game in 2025 compared to 10 per game in 2024.
As mentioned, taggers, like Fremantle's Matthew Johnson, have got the better of Reid to begin 2025, as their physicality has reduced his impact around the ground ball and effectively taken him out of areas where he is most impactful.
Through three games, Reid is averaging 0.7 hard ball get per games, a sharp drop from the 2.7 he averaged in his debut season. The toll of the "run-with" opponents has resulted in Reid getting caught up in the heat of the battle in the midfield, tiring him and slowing his approach to the contest. Therefore, it's no surprise he's also averaging fewer post-clearance contested possessions and handball receives.
Despite all this, his touches are usually impactful, averaging almost identical score involvements per game as his rookie season (4.7), despite fewer and less effective disposals.
So, how do the Eagles ensure Harley gets more of the football? The answer may have already been found in the final quarter of Sunday's Derby.
West Coast senior coach Andrew McQualter made the adjustment to shift Reid to half-back in the fourth quarter and immediately reaped the benefits, Reid creating three moments of stunning play that reminded fans of his first-year best.
The first moment was with 6:34 left in the game, faking a kick down the line inside his defensive 50 before side stepping the man on the mark and bursting to the arc. With space, he delivered a quality kick to the wing contest, which spilled in the Eagles favour and eventuated in a mark inside 50 and goal for Jamie Cripps.
The next was with four minutes to go. Michael Frederick turned the ball over on the left wing and as the Eagles went forward, Reid found himself completely unmanned. He provided the option in the corridor as the Eagles worked the arc and then unleashed a bomb from 55 metres out, Archer Reid taking a spectacular mark on the goal line to secure the six points.
Harley proceeded to let the nearby Caleb Serong know about his defensive efforts with another scuffle, yet this moment didn't "distract" from him producing another master stroke in the match.
In the ensuing centre bounce, Reid bolted through the centre square from his half-back position, losing his direct opponent and finding himself in open pasture space. As he received the handball from Elijah Hewett, his speed went into another gear, no Docker able to get close. Unfortunately, this second 55-metre punt sprayed right for a behind but what the AFL world saw in just three and a half minutes of play was undeniable - Reid's talent was being maximised in a new role and it demonstrated that he can still be at his damaging best.
McQualter explained his decision post-game, excited by the potential of Reid in this new role.
"He was getting some attention from [Matthew] Johnson, so we just thought at that time the game needed something different โฆ and the last 20 minutes of the game, I think we did see something that we liked," McQualter said post-game.
"I think if we can add another string to his bow, he can become a pretty dangerous player down there as well. Not many young players play AFL midfield straight away, it's a hard task. Most midfielders are really senior guys that have been playing it for a long time.
"We want to be able to be flexible and play multiple roles. So I think it's something we'll keep exploring."
McQualter is right. Nick Daicos, another generational talent of recent years, played his rookie season primarily in the half-back role and was incredibly influential there, amassing over 25 disposals per game and winning the Rising Star. He then gradually spent more time in the midfield in Collingwood's premiership season and now has adjusted to become a full-time superstar midfielder.
Obviously, Reid and Daicos are very different midfield prototypes but the premise remains. Reid doesn't have to play inside all the time to be successful at the AFL level and as was seen on Sunday night, there are glimpses of the damage he can provide in other roles. With his powerful burst and elite strength as just a 19-year-old, there's so much potential still waiting to be tapped into.
Reid's intriguing season will continue to unfold against a dominant Giants outfit on Sunday at ENGIE Stadium. How he is utilised by McQualter remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: it's too early to be giving up on the Prince of Perth just yet.
