West Coast star Tim Kelly chooses to head back to WAFL as he looks to break back into Eagles' midfield
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West Coast star Tim Kelly chooses to head back to WAFL as he looks to break back into Eagles' midfield
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West Australian
9 hours ago
- West Australian
Western derby 61: Fremantle at the shortest ever to beat West Coast in predicted one-sided affair
Fremantle are certainties to beat West Coast in western derby 61. At least that is according to the bookies who have the Dockers at the shortest odds ever to beat their cross-town rivals the Eagles when they meet at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon. TABTouch has Fremantle at nearly an unbackable $1.03 to get the four points against West Coast, who are paying a whopping $12 to upset the finals-bound Dockers. The line is also at 50.5 — making this the shortest odds of any team to win a western derby in history, with the line at 42.5 for the second derby in 2022 with the Dockers also favourites. On that day it was a 24-point win to Fremantle. The two teams could not be more polar opposites when it comes to form. Fremantle — led by coach Justin Longmuir — have won eight of their past nine games, including away wins over premiership fancies Collingwood, as well as defeating Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. It has the Dockers on track to return to finals for the first time since 2022 and a genuine contender for a top-four finish, something they have not accomplished since they won the minor premiership in 2015. Even the absence of injured skipper Alex Pearce isn't hurting their chances, with midfielders and vice-captains Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw leading the way, with the likes of Jordon Clark, Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy in career-best form. Meanwhile, the Eagles appeared to have hit rockbottom. They are on track for a one-win season for the first time in club history, with their only victory this season coming against St Kilda in round 10. It means coach Andrew McQualter is likely to end his first year with a wooden spoon — a situation the Eagles have only found themselves in twice (2023 and 2010) before in their history. And while midfield sensation Harley Reid is lighting it up, there are too many senior players sidelined for them to be competitive week-in, week-out. Co-captain Oscar Allen is out with a knee and calf injury, while last year's All-Australians Jake Waterman (shoulder) and Jeremy McGovern (retired) as well as star midfielder Elliot Yeo (ankle) are also unavailable. It has led McQualter to lean on a very young team that lost to 17th placed Richmond last weekend by 49 points. And it means the derby is likely to be a one-sided affair.
7NEWS
11 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Harley Reid manager lands in WA as $24 million contract offer sends shockwaves through the AFL
As the AFL world digests the staggering number of zeros in Harley Reid's fresh contract offer, the young gun's manager has touched down in Perth for Derby week. 7NEWS AFL reporter Ryan Daniels says Nick Gieschen's trip to WA was planned 'a while back' and the player agent is expecting to meet up with 'a number of players'. 'But no doubt Harley's contract proposal to West Coast will be on the agenda,' Daniels said. The contract proposal has the entire football world talking, with Daniels (on Tuesday) calling it 'a significant development' and one that signalled the 20-year-old's 'intention to stay' in Perth. 'The proposed deal would be for two years initially, with an option for Harley to extend that to 11 years, until the end of 2037, and be worth around $2.2 million per season. The total number would likely be north of $24 million,' Daniels said. 'The deal would make it the biggest contract in AFL history, the biggest contract in domestic Australian sports. It's a somewhat overwhelming commitment, and at this stage, the Eagles haven't responded. 'But don't panic, West Coast fans. It's a lot to digest. Harley could be the AFL's best player within a few years. But 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 is box office. 'If the Eagles hesitate, the line of Victorian clubs circling will be long, and they'll pay whatever price they need to.' Daniels said West Coast's past four years had been 'disastrous' but the signature of Harley Reid would be 'a significant victory and a sign things might finally be turning around'. He said it would also end years of endless chat about a Reid move back to Victoria. 'Now the Eagles have a chance to keep their man. This is the key moment. They just need to sign on the dotted line,' he said. Meanwhile, West Coast captain Liam Duggan believes Reid will remain at the Eagles. 'I'm really eager for Harley to sign. I mean, he's going to be paid very well regardless of where it is, and he's going to get a long-term deal regardless of where it is,' he said on Triple M. 'But all I can speak of at the moment is that his investment in what we're going after at the moment is second to none. 'He has been so dialled into what we're going after as a footy club at the moment, he's been very vocal in that amongst the group, the way he's playing, you can see that in the way that he's playing, and I think our supporters would be able to see that in the way that he's going about his footy right now.'
West Australian
13 hours ago
- West Australian
West Coast captain Liam Duggan confident Harley Reid will recommit to Eagles as talks ramp up
West Coast captain Liam Duggan believes Harley Reid will remain at the Eagles, saying the star's investment at the club is 'second-to-none.' Reid's management has ramped up contract talks with the Eagles, with his draft contract set to come to an end at the end of next season. There are reports of a $20 million, 10-year deal on the table while Victorian clubs such as Hawthorn and Geelong are also chasing hard for the former No.1 pick. While Duggan says he's unsure of what deal the club was working towards, he is confident the 20-year-old will recommit to the Eagles. 'I'm really eager for Harley to sign. I mean, he's going to be paid very well regardless of where it is, and he's going to get a long-term deal regardless of where it is,' he said on Triple M. 'But all I can speak of at the moment is that his investment in what we're going after at the moment is second to none. 'He has been so dialled into what we're going after as a footy club at the moment, he's been very vocal in that amongst the group, the way he's playing, you can see that in the way that he's playing, and I think our supporters would be able to see that in the way that he's going about his footy right now.' After a slow start to the season, Reid has been the standout performer over recent weeks and was the only Eagle to receive coaches' votes in their disastrous loss to Richmond. Duggan said Reid has grown as a leader at the club, believing it's been his biggest development this year. 'What he's given us at the moment is huge, and he's shown so much leadership, sort of qualities as a youngster, which I don't think a lot of people would probably think of in Harley,' he said. 'I think they think the best players, they just go about it quietly, do their own thing and but he's he's complete opposite, he's dialled in completely to what it is. 'And he's a great mate. Pre-game, I ducked around to his place., I enjoy spending time with him, so as a mate, I just want him to be happy, but I'd love it to be with us, and I think it will be.' As the negotiations continue, Duggan said the noise around his future would have no impact on Reid or his performances on the field. 'He's used to the talk, so the noise is not unusual. He had plenty of it before he got drafted.'
