AFL great pinpoints big issue ‘bogging down' Harley Reid
Brisbane premiership player Dayne Zorko hopes that Harley Reid can rediscover his love of football before the end of the season.
But the West Coast young gun will not do so until he settles his future and releases 'the shackles', according to AFL great Nick Riewoldt.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Dayne Zorko 'genuinely feels' for Harley Reid.
Reid's performances remain under the spotlight towards the end of a solid if unspectacular second season featuring just one Eagles win to date.
The 20-year-old had just five kicks — his second-lowest tally of the season — against Collingwood, recording 17 disposals, four tackles and three free kicks against.
Despite being contracted until the end of 2026, there is constant speculation around a potential move to Victoria. Reid in comparison to other players from the 2023 draft class. Credit: Channel 7
Riewoldt agreed with fellow panellist Kane Cornes that he appears to be struggling at the moment, but believes once he signs a contract, then it will change.
'What it looks like to me for Harley there is so much talk about what he is going to do, the contract offer that we are told is hanging out there, $2m,' Riewoldt said on The Agenda Setters.
'To me, it looks like there is a mind set almost that his career is going to start when that decision has been made. And the time in between now is just waiting to get to that moment.
'I can understand how that happens, the psychology for a young player but that is what it looks like.
'I don't think he's reached anywhere near the heights that we saw when he was a fresh-faced kid excited to play AFL football.
'To me it looks like all of that is weighing so heavily. It's like he can't start his career properly until his that decision was made.
'What we have seen of him at his best, he is not near that at the moment. To me, he looks bogged down.
'The sooner he signs a long-term deal the better. Then the shackles will be off.'
Brisbane champion Zorko threw his support behind Reid and pointed out a comparison with teammate Cam Rayner.
Rayner was taken with pick No.1 in the 2017 draft but hasn't faced nearly as much as scrutiny as Reid.
'For me and working with younger players ... we had Cam Rayner at the club, a No.1 pick, a lot of expectation this guy has to come in and change the club almost. It is a lot of weight to put on a kid's shoulders,'
'It's still really hard to see that this kid is going to pick up West Coast and take them to the promised land.'
Zorko then said the media were too harsh on Reid.
'Yes, because what we are seeing is not real. The expectation, no other kid is getting this at 19 years of age. No other kid in the competition is getting this,' he continued.
'So we are pumping this kid up that he is going to be this person, and it is very hard not to read that. You are on the page of the WA for 50 weeks or 50 days, that is a lot for a kid.
'Cam Rayner, No.1 pick for us, maybe twice on the back page of Brisbane.
'It is just a different expectation level here.
'I genuinely feel for Harley. I know his numbers are not reading great, but there is no doubt, if I was in his camp I would be looking to strip it right back and ask him, 'why do you love playing football?'
'How are we going to get the best out of you and let's build the last eight games and see what we can turn you into it.'
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