Like the Derbies of old, there was plenty of push and shove in Fremantle’s 35-point win on Saturday night – but it was West Coast’s prized number one pick Harley Reid who found himself involved in most of it.
Interim Eagles coach Jarrad Schofield said he “loved” what he saw from his talented teen and remained “proud” of the way the young gun handled the attention.
“For a 19-year-old to be getting booed, to be getting flexed and manhandled by a strong side, they are concerned about him,” he said post match.
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“For a 19-year-old that’s playing on the edge, and I ask the players to play on the edge, he was right on it.
“Come and tackle him! He’s pretty strong for a 19-year-old. Takes two or three of them!
“Good on ‘em for coming at him because he’s not taking a backward step – and we don’t want him to take a backward step.
“I was really proud of him tonight. What he did in his game was just play his game. Didn’t get caught up in all the external noise that was going on in the game. He kept playing hard football.
“I thought Harley played the game the right way – played tough, didn’t get distracted, played on the edge and had his big brother (Elliot Yeo) looking after him.”
Reid, who had a massive first half where he racked up 17 touches and broke five tackles, is set to find himself lighter in the wallet as the Match Review puts a spotlight on several incidents in the spiteful Western Derby.
His battle with Andy Brayshaw saw both players cough up a whopping five free kicks apiece as neither player took a backward step.
But Reid’s biggest moment came in the third term when his off the ball hit saw Sam Switkowski convert the subsequent free kick before a massive brawl broke out, involving most players on the field – but not the number one pick who was walked away by Elliot Yeo.
Michael Frederick, who was one of 14 Dockers caught up in the biggest fight of the night, said the physicality of the clash wasn’t personal.
“It’s a bit of biff. Maybe trying to throw us off our game but we know not to take that kind of stuff from them. Let our footy do the talking,” he told foxfooty.com.au.
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“We know that Harley Reid’s been a shining light for them this year – he’s a bit of a barometer for them.
“We knew if we could kind of throw him off his game, he could send their team on a bit of a decline.
“It took until the third quarter to break them.
“We’re not about the scrap … but we’re all about doing it together.”
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir enjoyed what he saw in the midfield battle – despite cameras capturing him losing his cool in the box in a tense third term.
“At times it spilled over and that’s what happens when both teams are having a crack,” he said.
“That’s what happens in games where there’s a lot on the line, big crowd, both teams are physical. That stuff happens.”
And the Freo coach was adamant it wasn’t a one-sided tussle with the “pretty phenomenal” Reid.
“I think Harley gives as good as he gets,” he said.
The number one draft pick ended his night with 29 disposals – 15 of those contested, a career-high 10 clearances, more than 420m gained and six score involvements.
Source Agencies
