Draft Intel: All the latest AFL Draft news from around the country
Harley Reid left no doubts about his talent, with a starring role for Essendon in the VFL on Saturday, including a remarkable hangar. Get the latest draft news from across the country.
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The hype around Harley Reid has soared to new heights after the expected No. 1 draft pick starred in his debut for Essendon’s VFL side on Saturday.
Playing primarily onball, Reid racked up 23 disposals, six clearances and seven marks in a clash against Southport on the Gold Coast.
Reid was strong around the contest, made good decisions with ball in hand, pulled out his signature fend-off on more than one occasion and impressed from a defensive standpoint with his pressure and tackling.
He also featured in the highlight of the day, soaring onto the shoulders of a Southport opponent on the wing during the second quarter to pull off a huge hanger.
HARLEY REID HAS TAKEN AN ABSOLUTE HANGER! 😠pic.twitter.com/8hWB3U1KPE
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2023
Despite the 18-year-old’s best efforts, the Bombers went down to the Sharks, 12.15 (85) to 12.7 (79).
AFL-listed small forward Tex Wanganeen was also lively for Essendon with four first-half goals, while key defender Kaine Baldwin racked up 27 disposals and 12 marks.
Reid’s appearance for Essendon came after he had featured in two VFL matches for Carlton earlier this season.
His Coates Talent League side — the Bendigo Pioneers — is affiliated with both the Blues and Bombers, opening up the opportunities. “I just try not to read into it as much and just keep playing footy.”
Hailing from the small town of Tongala in northern Victoria, Reid won Vic Country’s MVP award after impressing during this year’s under-18 national championships and was named at full forward in the All-Australian team.
He averaged 19.5 disposals, 6.5 clearances and 1.3 goals from his four matches in that tournament, which he entered off limited preparation after suffering a concussion in May.
Reid played a senior game of football for Tongala in the Murray Football League last weekend and was a “class above”, named best-on-ground as he kicked three goals from the midfield.
Reid said last month that he was focusing on “playing footy for fun” amid a flood of attention as one of the most hyped No. 1 draft pick prospects in recent times.
“I’m pretty laid-back so I’m pretty cruisy with it all,” he said.
TOP PROSPECTS SHINE FOR SCHOOL SIDES
The best efforts of a pair of first-round draft locks were not enough to get Caulfield Grammar over the line as Haileybury College secured the APS Football premiership last weekend.
Haileybury scored an eight-point win in the top-of-the-table clash to remain unbeaten atop of the ladder heading into the final round, securing this year’s title given the competition has no finals series.
Haileybury’s premiership side included Archie Roberts, a rebounding halfback who was vice-captain of his school and is considered a likely top-25 selection in this year’s draft.
Caulfield’s side this year has been headlined by small forward Nick Watson and key defender Ollie Murphy.
Watson kicked three goals and found plenty of the footy last weekend to be named his side’s best in the loss, while Murphy impressed with his intercepting ability down back.
MORE: THE 10 PLAYERS WHO PERFORMED ON THE APS’ BIGGEST STAGE
SANDERS DOMINATES AGAIN
The top-10 draft prospect at the centre of a spat between AFL clubs is continuing to quietly go about his work dominating games at every level.
Ryley Sanders booted five goals and reportedly racked up 41 disposals through the midfield for Melbourne Grammar in a best-on-ground performance against Wesley College last weekend.
Sanders’ efforts helped his side to a 22-point victory, which was Melbourne Grammar’s first of the season against a Wesley College side which remains winless on the bottom of the table.
AFL clubs have voiced their frustrations in recent weeks at plans by North Melbourne to gain access to Sanders as a pre-selection in a special assistance package from the league.
Originally from Tasmania, Sanders could be included in North Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy.
However, under ordinary rules the Kangaroos would be unable to match a bid on Sanders which came in the top-40 picks.
Sanders won the Larke Medal as the best player of this year’s under-18 national championships after a dominant tournament for the Allies which saw him average 35.8 disposals, five clearances and a goal.
‘OTHER’ REID FINDING FORM
After some lean form in the middle part of the year, towering key forward Archer Reid is enjoying a late-season purple patch.
The 203cm key forward was again one of Gippsland Power’s best players in the Coates Talent League last weekend, kicking four goals from 19 disposals and nine marks.
The performance saw Reid finish as the third-highest ranked player on the ground with 142 SuperCoach ranking points in a 34-point win over the Northern Knights.
In his previous outing for the Power in Round 11, Reid has also kicked four goals from 17 disposals and eight marks for a total of 170 ranking points.
In-between those two Coates League outings, Reid booted two goals from eight disposals and seven marks in an impressive outing for Vic Country in the final match of the under-18 national championships last month.
Recruiters have mixed views on Reid, with his lack of physicality one concern.
However, he is still expected by many to be a top-25 pick at the end of the season, particularly if he keeps up his recent form.
“You’re just going to have to be patient with him,” one recruiter said recently.
“He can clearly play AFL.”
BLUES CONTINUE TO HURT PIES
Carlton’s return to form has been bad news for Collingwood in more ways than one.
Not only did the Blues topple the Magpies last Friday night, but their speedy climb up the ladder has come at a growing cost to their arch rivals.
Carlton has climbed from 15th to 7th on the ladder on the back of six-straight wins.
The Magpies hold the Blues’ second-round draft pick, which has consequently blown out from pick 23 to pick 31 during that period.
Carlton holds its own first-round pick, which has dropped to pick 12 on the current indicative draft order.
The Blues’ next selection is not until pick 62.
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