North Haven’s Matthew Reed kicks 72 goals in 11 amateur football games

AMATEUR league leading goalkicker Matthew Reed is closing on his century but says it will be meaningless unless he can help North Haven end a 30-year flag drought.

AMATEUR league leading goalkicker Matthew Reed is closing on his century but says it will be meaningless unless he can help North Haven end a 30-year flag drought.

Reed, of Semaphore Park, has booted 72 goals in division four while playing a key role in the Magpies’ 10-1 start to the season.

The 185cm Reed’s tally includes an 11-goal haul and two bags of 10.

Reed says a poor performance in the club’s 51-point division five grand final loss to Westminster Old Scholars last season and winning the club’s first premiership since 1985 motivates him.

“I kicked none in the grand final so I’m hoping to get a shot at redemption this year,” Reed, 20, says.

“We were outplayed – absolutely hammered.

“It’d be a pretty special achievement to get the hundred, but it’d be nice to finish the year off in a winning grand final team.

“(The century) is not going to mean anything unless we do something special this year.”

Reed has booted 23 more majors than anyone in the amateur league’s 23 competitions.

If he maintains his 6.5 goals per game average, he will crack the ton in about six weeks.

“It helps when you’re getting good delivery from the team and we’re playing well.”

Reed, a former Port Adelaide Magpies junior, has only been a forward for two years after switching from the midfield.

He kicked 54 goals last season.

There has been a decline in spearheads kicking bags in the AFL and SANFL but Reed says forwards in lower amateur league divisions can have prolific seasons.

“There’s more space – none of the full oval presses you see in higher divisions and more one-on-ones.

“I’m still learning how to play the role ... but I’m travelling all right at the moment.”