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Harley Reid does not owe the Eagles a career

Harley Reid does not owe the Eagles a career

Perth Now4 days ago
Nick Riewoldt says the emerging AFL superstar needs to make a decision about his future and lift the weight of expectation from himself.
It's the kind of rumour that makes West Coast fans cling to hope: Harley Reid willing to sign a huge contract that would keep him at the club beyond the next decade.
I don't think he should do it.
In fact, I think it might be time for him to follow Jason Horne-Francis' lead and, as he so aptly put it to the Port star, 'go back to mummy' by returning to Victoria.
The latest twist in the Reid saga is that his management and the Eagles are considering an 11-year deal — beginning with a two-year contract and the potential to extend for another nine — that would see the 20-year-old star paid $20 million.
And, in what should be music to Eagles fans' ears, Reid and his family have made it clear they do not want the teenager to go to a struggling club in Victoria like St Kilda or Essendon, according to The Agenda Setters' Caroline Wilson.
But while he may not want to move to another sinking ship, how long is he prepared to stay on the one he finds himself at the wheel of already?
As it stands, West Coast are a mess. A historically bad mess.
I don't blame Reid if he's impatient to play in a competitive and relevant football team. After all, he entered the league in a truly unique circumstance.
He was a household name six months before being drafted and the most recognisable person in Perth at the age of 18. He's had to put up with more than anybody else in the league. And for what? Six wins in his first two years.
And with rumours continuing to swirl around Reid going to Hawthorn — a club on the rise that oozes the same brash attitude that is Reid's trademark — they loom as the most obvious destination for a player reportedly keen to join a team that's not mired in a long rebuild. West Coast star Harley Reid and Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell at Tom Barrass's wedding. Credit: supplied
The Hawks are reportedly willing to offer Reid a contract of eight to ten years at $1.7 to $1.8 million per season, making them his most likely landing point if he leaves Perth.
In February, Reid was pictured sharing a laugh with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell at ex-Eagles star, now Hawk, Tom Barrass's wedding, which had tongues wagging that Reid was already being fitted out for his brown and yellow jersey.
So if Reid can get pretty much the same money at Hawthorn for the same period, why would his management put forward the idea of a long-term deal for their star client to stay at a club that has only won one game this season, sits last on the ladder, and doesn't have a quick fix coming?
If history is anything to go by, the Eagles' rebuild is likely to take a decade. If Reid wants to follow Patrick Cripps's example and wait until he's 28 to play his first final, then he should stay an Eagle.
But I just can't see that happening. There are some young superstars who may have the temperament to see out a rebuild this brutal.
It's clear that Reid is not one of them.
He is a fierce competitor. We know this. We've known since the first day he stepped onto an AFL field. He plays right on the edge—and often goes over it.
It's when he plays his best, when the lights are brightest. Problem is, the Eagles aren't going to be playing when the lights are brightest in September for a long time.
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said after their loss against Richmond that Reid carries their midfield—a clear message to the rest of the team that also puts more pressure on Reid.
Reid, like Horne-Francis, is at his best when he's pushing the boundaries, as their recent fiery battle showed. But Reid's passionate approach on the field is only turning into frustration.
Champion Data recently revealed that Reid was the lowest-rated player in the AFL over the last six weeks prior to Round 19 — not because he is the worst football player, but because of turnovers and 50-metre penalties.
For a player with his talent and ability, this is outrageous. It is clear that the football environment in WA is getting the worst out of Reid, despite a season-best game against the Power this month.
This season he has already racked up 54 free kicks against — the most of any player — and in his 38-game career, he's been fined 13 times.
I know Eagles fans won't like it, but Reid doesn't owe them a career. He came, gave them hope, and provided a spark few of his teammates have been able to make the most of.
The club is not in the state to foster his generational talent. It looks as if it's burning it out.
A long-term deal holding Reid to the club for most of his career is probably not in his best interest, and he may want to be traded a few years into it. So West Coast are probably best to cash in his trade value this off-season.
It just might be the right time for Reid to go home to mummy.
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It wasn't quite high-powered Wall Street execs in Armani suits, marching in to close a billion-dollar deal — but the stakes, in a footy sense, were just as high. Harley's Melbourne-based manager Nick Geischen rolled into town, and while he didn't utter the words 'Show Me the Money', he didn't need to. The phrase was emanating from his $24 million smile. It's been a hectic week in Harley-world, with a somewhat surprising shift in the situation. Earlier this year, the Eagles put forward multiple contract options to Harley's team. Three, five, seven-year deals — a pick-your-own-adventure approach. Nothing came of it. which had people thinking — he's gone. Even before the Eagles drafted him, there was talk Harley would bail. That the Eagles would be better off trading the pick. Victorian journalist Sam McLure now famously declared 'they won't pick him, Mitch (Cleary)' — suggesting West Coast would be better off passing on one of the most prodigious talents the draft has seen in years — just to avoid the inevitable messy exit. It's always been perceived as a matter of when Harley will leave, not if . Then, the twist. Geischen had come bearing gifts — a proposal for West Coast. An 11-year deal. $2.2 million per year, on average. $24 million all up. The largest deal in AFL history. More money per year than Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins. Unprecedented numbers across the board. While it sounds like monopoly money, in 11 years, $2.2 million won't be as crazy as it sounds right now. By then, Harley will be 32 and potentially edging out of his prime — but with the growth of the AFL's salary cap, he might end up a bargain at some stage. Remember, back in 1994 Alastair Lynch signed a ten-year deal for $1 million — at $100,000 per season, people lost their minds at the money. By the time Lynch retired, he was woefully underpaid. As part of this proposed deal, Harley would have the option to leave after two years. If not, he'd be here until the end of 2037. Let that sink in. In 2037 we might actually have flying cars and robot slaves. Or we'll be slaves to the robots. I'll be 54 years old. Bring me a pair of warm slippers, a glass of prune juice, and cap it off with a few episodes of Murder She Wrote. Maybe my idea of what it's like to be 54 is a little dated — but you get the point — 2037 is an eternity away. Harley's people bringing this to the table signals his intention to stay — if terms can be agreed. So, what's changed? Nothing, really. All along we've heard Harley, the Eagles, even his management declare the young midfielder was taking his time, happy in Perth. In recent weeks Reid's form has elevated, he's exhibiting an edge, leadership around the club. He's forming strong bonds with teammates. My understanding is he's told Andrew McQualter he wants to stay. At 20, he's living on his own, cooking, cleaning, he's got a dog. He's handling the media/fan pressure superbly. Some 20-year-olds can barely remember to flush the toilet. This kid is settled. Credit to the Eagles for an environment where a country kid from the other side of Australia feels comfortable, happy. Saying that, nothing is guaranteed here. The new proposal isn't quite a gun to the head, an ultimatum — but it's not miles off it. This is how keeping Harley Reid looks. If that's too rich, there will be other suitors. It's a fairly simple situation — other than the overwhelming commitment. That's the holdup, if there is one. No one saw this coming. Not even the Eagles. The deal, or at least the sheer enormity of it, has blindsided West Coast. They've taken a pause. In the month following the contract proposal landing in their inbox, there's been no response. Some meals take a lot longer to digest, and this is like going to a steak joint and being served an entire cow. Don't panic Eagles fans, they know what they have in Harley. They love him. If they believe they've found the sun which all other planets can rotate around, that he could be their Dustin Martin, their Patrick Dangerfield, then they need to do it. Maybe it's a slight variation of this proposed deal, a happy compromise, but they can't get too cute here. Harley could be the AFL's best player within a few years. Yes, a deal that long, with that kind of financial commitment comes with risk. In my opinion, it's a risk worth taking. This kid is special. He wants to be here and he's box office. After a disastrous four years at the West Coast Eagles, the signature of Harley Reid would be a significant victory and a sign that things might finally be turning around. Years of endless chat about a move back to Victoria for Harley, now the Eagles have a chance to keep their man. They just need to sign on the dotted line.

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