Harley Reid’s Insta comment raises eyebrows as future speculation grows

Harley Reid’s future remains one of the biggest talking points in the AFL with the youngster pouring fuel all over the rumour mill.

Harley Reid’s future remains under constant speculation with the youngster pouring fuel all over the rumour mill.

Reid’s future with the West Coast Eagles remains a hot topic of conversation with the 20-year-old reportedly putting contract talks on hold until the end of this season.

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While the Eagles remain confident the 2023 number one draft pick will re-sign, rival clubs are lining up to swoop in and steal him away.

The Victorian-born star has been linked with Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn and Geelong with the Cats seen as the front runner to secure his services.

And Reid is only adding to the ongoing speculation with the midfielder raising eyebrows with one comment on Instagram.

Caitlin Miller, Tim Kelly’s partner, posted a carousel praising him after his 150th AFL game on Saturday night with several photos from Kelly’s time at Geelong earlier in his career.

Reid stole the limelight by commenting on the post: “Congrats, guys, go Cats.”

Miller replied to Reid: “You sh*thead” with a laughing emoji.

Harley Reid's questionable IG comment.

The remark will only further fuel theories that Reid is looking to depart the Eagles following the 2026 season and return to Victoria.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph noted that despite West Coast’s insistence that Reid would be sticking around, list bosses are confident he’s set to head back East.

“Every list boss you speak to today says: ‘No, he’s coming home. It’s not even an open secret. He will request a trade at the end of the year,’” Ralph said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“So it’s really challenging. You want to take on face value everyone you speak to.

“I still think it’s more likely that he comes home, but all I would say is if he does it, it’s not as a distressed asset. He’s really good kid placed in the most unusual situation you’ve ever seen – maybe Jason Horne-Francis had something similar.

“You feel for him, but I just think at the end of the year he might just say: ‘This is all too hard, get me out of here.’”

AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey told Gettable: “It doesn’t really matter who has the picks or cap space, the only thing that matters is where Harley Reid wants to be playing in 2026.”

Victorian clubs are circling Reid. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

While Geelong and Hawthorn are reportedly leading the charge to nab Reid away, Eddie McGuire believes Essendon is poised to offer him a mouth-watering contract thanks to a war chest of money.

The Bombers currently hold two first-round draft picks which could be used to appease the Eagles in any talks.

“Essendon are the one that they’re talking about at the moment,” McGuire said on the Eddie and Jimmy podcast in March.

“And my mail is they’ve got $2.5 (million) in their salary cap.

“I don’t know if it will all go to him, but they’ve got $2.5m sitting there.”

Essendon coach Brad Scott didn’t shy away from the fact the club would love to have the former number one draft pick on their list.

Reid’s future remains up in the air. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“He’s one of many (we’re interested in),” Scott said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.

“I mean, no, I haven’t spoken to him, but yeah, clearly the environment we’re in, if our list management team isn’t speaking to his management, then we’re slipping behind everyone else.”

AFL journalist Sam McClure said the comments from Scott were telling and pointed to his record of luring talent to the Bombers.

“Brad Scott has a good record of attracting the right sort of players to his teams, even when they’re not travelling that well,” McClure said.

While Victorian clubs continue to circle, the Eagles have reportedly offered Reid several mega-deals, with one including a five-year extension worth a reported $2m a season.

The speculation surrounding Reid’s future will continue to boil away until contract talks are held following the 2025 season.

Originally published as Harley Reid’s Insta comment raises eyebrows as future speculation grows