Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson has made a bombshell revelation about the Eagles’ potential recruiting power thanks to emerging superstar Harley Reid.
Reid just wrapped up his first season in the AFL after being taken with pick No.1 in last year’s draft.
The 19-year-old immediately announced himself on the big stage with a number of eye-catching performances, including a Rising Star nomination and Goal of the Year nomination.
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He was ineligible for the AFL Rising Star award after being suspended during the year, but did pick up the AFLPA Best First Year Player award.
Simpson was full of praise for the budding teenager for “dragging teammates” with him with his performances.
Reid kicked three goals in a shock win over Fremantle and booted two, including the Goal of the Year contender, in the equally impressive win over Melbourne.
Such were the performances, Simpson said rival players were ringing up the club wanting to play alongside Reid.
“He’s generational. He’s just a hunter and he drags teammates with him … the fans and all that stuff, the No.9 and the euphoria around that, that’s one thing, but the way he plays is infectious and you want to play with him,” Simpson said on SEN.
“We had several players, a-grade talent, ringing us … and the conversations were ‘I want to play with Harley’.
“Conversations like that were happening, but it did dry up a little bit (after some losses).”
SEN hosts Garry Lyon and Tim Watson both agreed “you can’t put a price on that”.
“As a player he is worth this, as a marketing tool he is worth this, as a sponsorship tool he’s worth this and as a potential recruiter he’s worth that, you can’t put a price on that,” Lyon said.
Simpson was impressed with Reid’s ability to handle the extreme pressure placed on him in his first year and hopes that he remains at the club.
He recounted an early chat he had with Reid before they drafted him.
“One thing about Harley is his character,” Simpson said.
“In interviews with Harley we asked, ‘Why do you play the game?’ He was like ‘I play to win and I play for my mates’ and they’re the two best things aren’t they?
“That typifies his attitude towards the game, he keeps it very simple, very relaxed kid, he’ll learn to be a pro in the coming years.
“Had to deal with a lot this year, my son is the same age and he gets a pimple and he’s a bit worried, Harley is on the back page every day for 30 days in a row. So dealing with expectations, he’s done that as an 18-year-old and he’s done it pretty well.
“He just wants to play footy with his mates and play to win. That should never leave him, that should be his No.1 reason to play.”
When asked if he thinks Reid will stay, Simpson said: “I think he’s loyal. Now that’s not putting any pressure on the kid because he’s going to get a lot of opportunities (from rivals), but he’s pretty loyal.”