A week after Harley Reid starred in the western derby, the West Coast prodigy is reportedly set to be rested this weekend.
Meanwhile a contract “loophole” could see the No. 1 draft pick become a $1 million player in just his third AFL season.
Reid starred in the Eagles’ 37-point win over Fremantle, kicking three goals from 19 disposals to miss out on the Glendinning-Allan Medal by just one vote.
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It’s only amplified the already extreme hype around Reid, particularly out in the west. However the 19-year old won’t get a chance to instantly back up his huge showing, with Reid set to be managed for Sunday’s game against the Suns at People First Stadium.
“It sucks a lot of life out of this game,” Herald Sun journalist Sam Landsberger said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“They want him fresh for a couple of weeks time when they face Essendon at home then Collingwood.”
It comes after it was revealed on Midweek Tackle that Reid’s earnings can go up significantly in his third season should he — or any other first or second-year player — hit one of several marketing bonuses on their contract below.
-Finish top 10 in the Brownlow Medal
-Finish top five in the club best and fairest
-Finish top five in the AFL Rising Star
-Make the All-Australian squad
-Receive a Rising Star nomination (20+ senior matches, Picks 1-5 only)
Several clubs will be lining up to try and pry Reid, who’s now eligible to sign a contract extension beyond his standard three-year deal.
Not that there’s been any indication Reid is keen to explore the market, but the aforementioned quirk in his Eagles deal will only help the West Australian club retain the Victorian long term.
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“He certainly can (become a $1 million player in his third season). This is a contract loophole, it’s a bit of a new thing,” Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark explained.
“We know first and second-year players earn not much — Harley this year earned $130,000 plus $4000 match payments and will earn $200,000 next season.
“In his third year, he can double or triple his earnings at West Coast, which could go a huge way in keeping him at the club.
“If he ticks one of those boxes, he could earn an extra $500,000-$600,000 on his contract as an additional service agreement.
“West Coast has $1.25 million to splash around, as if Harley Reid is not to get a huge slice of that cake.”
Fellow Herald Sun reporter Lauren Wood noted: “We saw what he did on the field on the weekend and he gives the nice little chip in the radio interview afterwards to David Mundy. So he’s got the personality to match what he’s doing on the field.
“It’s hard to argue he’s not worth that at the moment.”
Landsberger also thinks a seven-figure deal is “richly deserved” as Reid has already done marketing for West Coast “for the next 10 years.”
He added: “My mind goes to the other players — Caleb Windsor, Nate Caddy and Ryley Sanders. These are all guys drafted last year who are red-hot changes to be eligible to tick one of those boxes and get juicy contracts in year three.”
Source Agencies
