‘Desperate’: Essendon named in explosive Harley Reid report

A Harley Reid storm is raging behind the scenes and Essendon has been named in an explosive report about the 19-year-old.

Essendon is the club going hardest to steal Harley Reid away from West Coast.

That’s the news that dropped on Tuesday night with suggestions the Bombers are the club that makes sense for Reid to consider when deciding on his future in coming months.

Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary said on Seven’s Agenda Setters that Reid returning to Victoria is a very real possibility for the rising star midfielder.

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The 19-year-old is reportedly set to put off making any decision about his AFL future until later in the 2025 season, with a deal of up to $2 million per-year expected to be tabled to the youngster.

Reid was selected by the Eagles with the No. 1 pick at the 2023 AFL Draft and was automatically signed to a three-year-deal through to the end of the 2026 season.

Cleary reported on Tuesday night the Eagles have prepared separate two-year and five-year offers to entice Reid to sign on the bottom line. Those offers are reported to be worth a minimum of $1.5 million per-year.

The five-year option would take Reid to free agency when he would theoretically be on the open market to sign the richest contract of his career.

Harley Reid is going to get paid. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Victorian clubs are reportedly already preparing resources to bring Reid back to his home state much sooner than that.

According to Cleary, Essendon will be leading the race because of the reported salary cap space the club has, as well as two first-round draft picks this season.

The Eagles may be forced to come to the trade table this year in order to command top-dollar for Reid, rather than head into possible negotiations next year while Reid’s contract will have expired and the club has less bargaining power to play with.

Cleary said: “Essendon is the club that makes the most sense. He played VFL there and has strong connection. He’s close friends with Nate Caddy and Essendon has two first-round draft picks.

“The Bombers have the upper hand if he leaves this year.”

The leading footy journalist also told 7News: “The Eagles, they’re desperate to re-sign Harley Reid beyond 2026. They’ve presented options of a two or a five-year extension.

“If clubs in Victoria get their way, the Bombers are currently the club coming hardest for Harley Reid’s signature.”

It comes as football journalist Tom Morris said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified that Victorian clubs privately believe Reid is “absolutely in play to come home at the end of next year”.

Morris said Reid’s motivation to potentially leave the Eagles would be the lure of escaping Perth, where the rural-Victorian product is already one of the biggest stars in Western Australia.

Adelaide Crows champion Rory Sloane responded to the report by advising the Eagles to do everything they could to bring Reid’s friends and family to Perth as often as possible to keep him happy.

Sloane also said it was “distasteful” to be continuing to discuss Reid’s future so far in advance of when his contract expires.

Essendon legend James Hird, meanwhile, also said on Nine that West Coast could potentially turn Reid into three “elite” players at the trade table in coming years.

“I think he will leave,” the Essendon premiership captain said.

“I think West Coast, if they do think he’s going to leave, can be quite pragmatic in the way GWS has been in trading their players. The way they got Finn Callaghan and Aaron Cadman in.

Brownlow Medal Red Carpet arrivals. Harley Reid and Yasmin Duursma. Picture: NewsWire/ Michael Klein.

“They’ve been revolving their picks for the last 10 years and they’ve been continually bringing in great new talent and letting players go who are very good players on the periphery.

“West Coast could potentially turn Harley Reid into three good players, rather than one champion.”

Hird earlier said the only hope clubs have is to offer Reid a $20 million contract, spread across 10 years.

Playing a large factor in his decision to stay or go could be what happens with his partner and current Carlton AFLW player Yasmin Duursma.

Duursma was living in Perth with Reid since completing the most recent AFLW season but has reportedly returned to Victoria.

Duursma is also the sister of Essendon wingman Xavier and North Melbourne forward Zane, and those clubs will undoubtedly be keen to use any pull they have to lure Reid.

Joining Port Adelaide through the draft in 2022, Durrsma requested a move back to Victoria in 2023, listing family as the reason.

Both her brothers and her family live in Melbourne and she was relieved when she got her wish in December 2023, so it appears unlikely she would be lured out of Victoria.

Reid and Duursma celebrated their one-year anniversary in January and have quickly become one of footy’s biggest power couples.

Originally published as ‘Desperate’: Essendon named in explosive Harley Reid report