Latest news with #Essendon
West Australian
6 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Harley Reid: Rival clubs crunching the numbers as speculation mounts over West Coast Eagles star's future
Rival clubs are crunching the numbers on what a potential offer for Harley Reid would take in order to pry him out of West Coast. The Eagles confirmed Reid's season is over following an ankle injury in the western derby loss to Fremantle on Saturday but it hasn't slowed any speculation over the 20-year-old's future. Essendon are among the Victorian rivals showing strong interested in the gun midfielder, while it's understood Reid's management has presented counter-offers to the Eagles that could make him one of the AFL's highest-paid players. Leading Channel 7 analyst Caroline Wilson said Reid's advisers were 'holding the West Coast Eagles to ransom'. 'I don't think it is going to do him any good at all to stay at West Coast on a $2 million long-term contract or go to another club on big money,' Wilson told The Agenda Setters on Monday night. 'Particularly when he is not performing as that sort of player yet. It's crazy.' Wilson doubled down on an earlier call Essendon had been scared out of the race for Reid's signature, given the huge sum and commitment involved. 'My clear understanding after talking to Essendon over several weeks is that they are shocked by the sort of money that has been asked for Harley Reid,' Wilson said. 'They were told unless you are interested to go north of $1.5 million over as much as 10 years, we are not going to deal with you. 'Maybe there is another game at play here that I am missing. Maybe people are feeding me the wrong information but I don't think they are. 'I don't think Essendon are prepared to pay close to $2 million for Harley Reid.' It follows a denial from Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo that the Bombers had tapped out of the race. 'We had a bit of laugh the other day when all that come out,' Vozzo said. 'I didn't realise until 24 hours later so I personally rang (Reid's manager) Nick Gieschen to apologise to be honest. I was quite embarrassed when I read those comments. It is certainly not true.' Reid's camp this month presented counter-proposals to the Eagles which include one worth an estimated $24 million over 11 years. Hawthorn, Geelong and the Bombers were among the clubs reportedly willing to offer Reid long-term deals worth more than $2 million a season. Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has met with Gieschen but said this week $2 million for one player would make it a 'little bit more difficult'. 'If I'm really honest I actually don't know. I don't have anything to do with the financial stuff. It doesn't seem right for us. At some point that's going to happen isn't it? Whether it's in this CBA or the next one, but the money in the game continues to go up,' Mitchell said. 'The average salary continues to be higher and higher and higher and as they should be. Everyone wants to play the game and the spectacle of what we're putting on at the moment is pretty good. I think the players deserve what they're getting, it's just how you attribute that. 'With our midfield as an example, being pretty workmanlike and making sure that we're consistent across the board. If you're putting $2 million into one player, that makes it a little bit more difficult of course.' Gieschen recently returned from a trip to Perth, which included discussions over Reid's future with West Coast. It comes as Reid's second AFL season ended four games early, with West Coast confirming their rising star will miss the final month with an ankle injury. Reid offered hope to West Coast fans in an Instagram post that he may be planning to stay with the WA club, saying 'not how I wanted the season to end' before adding: 'We'll keep building together.' Reid was helped off the field late in Saturday's 49-point loss to Fremantle after he injured his ankle in a tackle. Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley told his fellow On The Couch panellists on Fox Footy on Monday night: 'I personally don't think that is a decision West Coast should make.' 'If you're being held to ransom in some shape or form by this player for that amount of money, that means you're probably going to get two or three first-rounders back. Maybe that depth is going to be better for you than a Harley Reid,' he said. Jack Riewoldt added: 'Is there enough evidence to suggest he's the character? He's had one (full) pre-season and, by all reports, has come back in shape that isn't of an AFL standard. We constantly have conversations about him being hot-headed — and the caveat is he's young and learning — are you willing to risk $24 million on that?' But four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis said there was 'a soft spot for me for players like Harley'. 'He is a player we think will be generational. I'd be staggered if they lost him,' Lewis said of West Coast.
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Rogue AFL fixture looms as finals-deciding clash
With Gold Coast's postponed match against Essendon looming as an increasingly pivotal part of the AFL top-four race, an announcement on the timing of the rogue fixture is imminent. The opening-round clash on the Gold Coast was postponed because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and rescheduled to the end of the season, rather than for either club's bye week. There have been reports the stray game could be played on the Wednesday between round 24 and the pre-finals bye. Now at the pointy end of the season, the Suns' and Bombers' vastly contrasting fortunes means the game could play a crucial role leading into what looms as Gold Coast's first finals series. The eighth-placed Suns (48 points) are four points ahead of the Western Bulldogs but four behind fourth-placed Geelong, who are on 52 points along with Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle, but Gold Coast have a game in hand. The injury-ravaged 15th-placed Bombers are on an eight-game losing streak, and up against it to win another game this year. It means a likely - and potentially percentage-boosting - win for Gold Coast could be what launches the Suns into the top four. "That's the last fixture, so that's the final part of flexing the fixture," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday. "So we're working through that at the moment, "I reckon we'll be making an announcement on that in the next week or so." Dillon was speaking ahead of the AFL's industry summit, which included representatives from all clubs, including Tasmania. He acknowledged the gulf in quality between the AFL's top nine and bottom nine this season, but considered it an anomaly. "There is a bit of a gap," he said. "But I think what's really pleasing for some is you look at the top eight or nine this year with four teams that have come from outside to inside. "You often get anomalous seasons. Last year, we were at 13 or 14 teams in it right to the end. This year's a little bit different "What we do have is an incredibly tight competition at the pointy end." The league has come under criticism for Essendon and Carlton continuing to play in prime timeslots despite their decline in fortunes. "Maybe this year's just a bit of an outlier in terms of the teams that were selected earlier on, some big Victorian teams who were in pretty solid form at the time the floating fixture was put in, that hasn't come to fruition," Dillon said. "But again, the games are still rating pretty well, they're still pretty well attended, but we'll take on board feedback from fans and broadcasters and our clubs as we look to the 2026 fixture." Dillon said the league needed to strike a balance between ensuring the fixture was flexible, while also looking after the fans. He was "really confident" the Tasmanian expansion club would be ready for the 2028 season, but stressed their licence was dependent on the building of the roofed 23,000-capacity stadium at Macquarie Point. With Gold Coast's postponed match against Essendon looming as an increasingly pivotal part of the AFL top-four race, an announcement on the timing of the rogue fixture is imminent. The opening-round clash on the Gold Coast was postponed because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and rescheduled to the end of the season, rather than for either club's bye week. There have been reports the stray game could be played on the Wednesday between round 24 and the pre-finals bye. Now at the pointy end of the season, the Suns' and Bombers' vastly contrasting fortunes means the game could play a crucial role leading into what looms as Gold Coast's first finals series. The eighth-placed Suns (48 points) are four points ahead of the Western Bulldogs but four behind fourth-placed Geelong, who are on 52 points along with Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle, but Gold Coast have a game in hand. The injury-ravaged 15th-placed Bombers are on an eight-game losing streak, and up against it to win another game this year. It means a likely - and potentially percentage-boosting - win for Gold Coast could be what launches the Suns into the top four. "That's the last fixture, so that's the final part of flexing the fixture," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday. "So we're working through that at the moment, "I reckon we'll be making an announcement on that in the next week or so." Dillon was speaking ahead of the AFL's industry summit, which included representatives from all clubs, including Tasmania. He acknowledged the gulf in quality between the AFL's top nine and bottom nine this season, but considered it an anomaly. "There is a bit of a gap," he said. "But I think what's really pleasing for some is you look at the top eight or nine this year with four teams that have come from outside to inside. "You often get anomalous seasons. Last year, we were at 13 or 14 teams in it right to the end. This year's a little bit different "What we do have is an incredibly tight competition at the pointy end." The league has come under criticism for Essendon and Carlton continuing to play in prime timeslots despite their decline in fortunes. "Maybe this year's just a bit of an outlier in terms of the teams that were selected earlier on, some big Victorian teams who were in pretty solid form at the time the floating fixture was put in, that hasn't come to fruition," Dillon said. "But again, the games are still rating pretty well, they're still pretty well attended, but we'll take on board feedback from fans and broadcasters and our clubs as we look to the 2026 fixture." Dillon said the league needed to strike a balance between ensuring the fixture was flexible, while also looking after the fans. He was "really confident" the Tasmanian expansion club would be ready for the 2028 season, but stressed their licence was dependent on the building of the roofed 23,000-capacity stadium at Macquarie Point. With Gold Coast's postponed match against Essendon looming as an increasingly pivotal part of the AFL top-four race, an announcement on the timing of the rogue fixture is imminent. The opening-round clash on the Gold Coast was postponed because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and rescheduled to the end of the season, rather than for either club's bye week. There have been reports the stray game could be played on the Wednesday between round 24 and the pre-finals bye. Now at the pointy end of the season, the Suns' and Bombers' vastly contrasting fortunes means the game could play a crucial role leading into what looms as Gold Coast's first finals series. The eighth-placed Suns (48 points) are four points ahead of the Western Bulldogs but four behind fourth-placed Geelong, who are on 52 points along with Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle, but Gold Coast have a game in hand. The injury-ravaged 15th-placed Bombers are on an eight-game losing streak, and up against it to win another game this year. It means a likely - and potentially percentage-boosting - win for Gold Coast could be what launches the Suns into the top four. "That's the last fixture, so that's the final part of flexing the fixture," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday. "So we're working through that at the moment, "I reckon we'll be making an announcement on that in the next week or so." Dillon was speaking ahead of the AFL's industry summit, which included representatives from all clubs, including Tasmania. He acknowledged the gulf in quality between the AFL's top nine and bottom nine this season, but considered it an anomaly. "There is a bit of a gap," he said. "But I think what's really pleasing for some is you look at the top eight or nine this year with four teams that have come from outside to inside. "You often get anomalous seasons. Last year, we were at 13 or 14 teams in it right to the end. This year's a little bit different "What we do have is an incredibly tight competition at the pointy end." The league has come under criticism for Essendon and Carlton continuing to play in prime timeslots despite their decline in fortunes. "Maybe this year's just a bit of an outlier in terms of the teams that were selected earlier on, some big Victorian teams who were in pretty solid form at the time the floating fixture was put in, that hasn't come to fruition," Dillon said. "But again, the games are still rating pretty well, they're still pretty well attended, but we'll take on board feedback from fans and broadcasters and our clubs as we look to the 2026 fixture." Dillon said the league needed to strike a balance between ensuring the fixture was flexible, while also looking after the fans. He was "really confident" the Tasmanian expansion club would be ready for the 2028 season, but stressed their licence was dependent on the building of the roofed 23,000-capacity stadium at Macquarie Point.
7NEWS
7 hours ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL boss Andrew Dillon defends fixture and competition of two halves
With Gold Coast's postponed match against Essendon looming as an increasingly pivotal part of the AFL top-four race, an announcement on the timing of the rogue fixture is imminent. The opening-round clash on the Gold Coast was postponed because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and rescheduled to the end of the season, rather than for either club's bye week. There have been reports the stray game could be played on the Wednesday between Round 24 and the pre-finals bye. Now at the pointy end of the season, the Suns' and Bombers' vastly contrasting fortunes means the game could play a crucial role leading into what looms as Gold Coast's first finals series. The eighth-placed Suns (48 points) are four points ahead of the Western Bulldogs but four behind fourth-placed Geelong, who are on 52 points along with Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle, but Gold Coast have a game in hand. The injury-ravaged 15th-placed Bombers are on an eight-game losing streak, and up against it to win another game this year. It means a likely — and potentially percentage-boosting — win for Gold Coast could be what launches the Suns into the top four. 'That's the last fixture, so that's the final part of flexing the fixture,' AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday. 'So we're working through that at the moment, 'I reckon we'll be making an announcement on that in the next week or so.' Dillon was speaking ahead of the AFL's industry summit, which included representatives from all clubs, including Tasmania. He acknowledged the gulf in quality between the AFL's top nine and bottom nine this season, but considered it an anomaly. 'There is a bit of a gap,' he said. 'But I think what's really pleasing for some is you look at the top eight or nine this year with four teams that have come from outside to inside. 'You often get anomalous seasons. Last year, we were at 13 or 14 teams in it right to the end. This year's a little bit different 'What we do have is an incredibly tight competition at the pointy end.' The league has come under criticism for Essendon and Carlton continuing to play in prime timeslots despite their decline in fortunes. 'Maybe this year's just a bit of an outlier in terms of the teams that were selected earlier on, some big Victorian teams who were in pretty solid form at the time the floating fixture was put in, that hasn't come to fruition,' Dillon said. 'But again, the games are still rating pretty well, they're still pretty well attended, but we'll take on board feedback from fans and broadcasters and our clubs as we look to the 2026 fixture.' Dillon said the league needed to strike a balance between ensuring the fixture was flexible, while also looking after the fans. He was 'really confident' the Tasmanian expansion club would be ready for the 2028 season, but stressed their licence was dependent on the building of the roofed 23,000-capacity stadium at Macquarie Point.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Rogue AFL fixture looms as finals-deciding clash
With Gold Coast's postponed match against Essendon looming as an increasingly pivotal part of the AFL top-four race, an announcement on the timing of the rogue fixture is imminent. The opening-round clash on the Gold Coast was postponed because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and rescheduled to the end of the season, rather than for either club's bye week. There have been reports the stray game could be played on the Wednesday between round 24 and the pre-finals bye. Now at the pointy end of the season, the Suns' and Bombers' vastly contrasting fortunes means the game could play a crucial role leading into what looms as Gold Coast's first finals series. The eighth-placed Suns (48 points) are four points ahead of the Western Bulldogs but four behind fourth-placed Geelong, who are on 52 points along with Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle, but Gold Coast have a game in hand. The injury-ravaged 15th-placed Bombers are on an eight-game losing streak, and up against it to win another game this year. It means a likely - and potentially percentage-boosting - win for Gold Coast could be what launches the Suns into the top four. "That's the last fixture, so that's the final part of flexing the fixture," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday. "So we're working through that at the moment, "I reckon we'll be making an announcement on that in the next week or so." Dillon was speaking ahead of the AFL's industry summit, which included representatives from all clubs, including Tasmania. He acknowledged the gulf in quality between the AFL's top nine and bottom nine this season, but considered it an anomaly. "There is a bit of a gap," he said. "But I think what's really pleasing for some is you look at the top eight or nine this year with four teams that have come from outside to inside. "You often get anomalous seasons. Last year, we were at 13 or 14 teams in it right to the end. This year's a little bit different "What we do have is an incredibly tight competition at the pointy end." The league has come under criticism for Essendon and Carlton continuing to play in prime timeslots despite their decline in fortunes. "Maybe this year's just a bit of an outlier in terms of the teams that were selected earlier on, some big Victorian teams who were in pretty solid form at the time the floating fixture was put in, that hasn't come to fruition," Dillon said. "But again, the games are still rating pretty well, they're still pretty well attended, but we'll take on board feedback from fans and broadcasters and our clubs as we look to the 2026 fixture." Dillon said the league needed to strike a balance between ensuring the fixture was flexible, while also looking after the fans. He was "really confident" the Tasmanian expansion club would be ready for the 2028 season, but stressed their licence was dependent on the building of the roofed 23,000-capacity stadium at Macquarie Point.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Put-off by the money': Victorian AFL club 'not prepared' to pay Harley Reid
Essendon were previously reported to be the Victorian AFL club 'best placed' to land Harley Reid if he leaves the West Coast Eagles. But new reports have suggested the Bombers are "not prepared" to offer him $2 million per season. Reid has been ruled out for the remainder of the AFL season due to a syndesmosis injury, with speculation ramping up as to where his future lies. The 20-year-old and his management have reportedly asked the Eagles for a two-year deal until the end of 2027, which would then trigger a lucrative nine-year extension. The 11-year deal is believed to be in the vicinity of $24 million all up, and the ball is now in West Coast's court as to whether they're comfortable paying that much. A number of clubs in Victoria - where Reid is from - are believed to be willing to pay him $2m per season, and are monitoring the situation closely. But according to Channel 7's Caroline Wilson, the Bombers aren't one of them. "They were so put-off by the money being asked by Reid's management," Wilson said on Monday night. "My clear understanding after talking to Essendon over several weeks is that they are shocked by the sort of money being asked for Harley Reid. "They were told that 'unless you're interested to go north of $1.5m for as much as 10 years, we're not going to deal with you'. Maybe people are feeding me the wrong information but I don't think they are. I don't think Essendon are prepared to pay close to $2m for Harley Reid." Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo revealed last weekend that he personally rang Reid's manager Nick Gieschen to apologise and deny reports the Bombers were out of the race for the star No.1 draft pick. But Wilson stood by the comments on Monday night. Nathan Buckley doesn't think West Coast should pay that much Speaking on Fox Footy, fellow reporter Jon Ralph said Reid would re-sign with the Eagles "in a heartbeat" if they accept his counter-offer. But Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley said Reid's management are effectively "holding the Eagles to ransom", and they might be better off trading him. Buckley said: 'I wonder why he'd be 'signing in a heartbeat'. I personally don't think that is a decision West Coast should make. If you're being held to ransom in some shape or form by this player for that amount of money, that means you're probably going to get two or three first-rounders back. Maybe that depth is going to be better for you than a Harley Reid.' RELATED: Sad family detail as Jack Silvagni 'all-but certain' for AFL club switch AFL world sends flood of messages over Collingwood hero's family news Back in March, the Bombers were being reported as the Victorian club 'best placed' and 'coming hardest' to lure Reid away from Western Australia. Reid is good mates with Bombers youngster Nate Caddy, and Essendon have two first-round draft picks they could offer to lure Reid back to the club where he played VFL. Reid's girlfriend Yasmin Duursma is based in Melbourne and plays AFLW with Carlton, but the current status of their relationship isn't clear. Duursma was reportedly living in Perth with Reid during the off-season, but all of her family are back in Victoria. It's been pointed out that Yasmin's brother Xavier plays for Essendon, while Zane Duursma is with North Melbourne. However there's been recent speculation that the relationship might have come to an end.
