Harley Reid’s stellar start to his West Coast Eagles career has been officially recognised, with the young gun named the round five Rising Star nominee.
Reid thrilled blue and gold fans on Sunday as the Eagles defeated Richmond to clinch their first win for the season in front of 47,665 supporters.
The No.1 draft pick gathered 27 disposals, extracted seven clearances, gained 531 metres and booted his first goal at Optus Stadium.
“I’m super honoured to win the award for this week and obviously it was a huge day for the club for the WAFL and AFL boys to win,” Reid told westcoasteagles.com.au.
Reid has grown by the week since making debut in round one against Port Adelaide, slotting into the engine room beside reemergent star Elliot Yeo and reigning John Worsfold medallist Tim Kelly.
“It’s good to see ‘Yeoy’ getting up each week and playing his best footy. For me it’s awesome to see that and get to work alongside him,” Reid said.
“I feel like our chemistry in there alongside ‘TK’ has been huge.
“Not just for me, but Reuben (Ginbey) coming through there and all of us young boys that are getting a run inside that midfield group.”
Reid snapped his maiden goal in Gather Round against Sydney, when he also broke seven tackles, and is averaging 18 disposals, nearly five clearances and 3.2 tackles per game.
The Tongala product has quickly become a fan favourite since inheriting the famous No.9 guernsey from Nic Naitanui and has soaked up the atmosphere at Optus Stadium.
“I’ve only played two home games but it’s pretty exciting,” Reid said. “If I can keep getting more kicks I’ll be happy because I just love hearing that roar.
“It was an unbelievable moment to kick a goal in front of the home fans because obviously the support we have here is huge and they have been with us through thick and thin.
“I’ve only played five games, but I think they’re the reason we turned it around on the weekend to do it for them in front of our home crowd, so it was pretty exciting.”
Reid is West Coast’s fourth Rising Star nominee in the past two seasons, following Ginbey, Jai Culley and Elijah Hewett’s gongs last year.
They are part of a promising core of young players coming through the ranks, including Brady Hough, Ryan Maric, Noah Long, Jack Williams and Campbell Chesser.
“Us young boys are trying to put our best foot forward for the team,” Reid said.
“For me, I’m trying to do what I can for the team to be on the winners’ list, because after the weekend I feel we could get used to winning.”
