Lachie Neale leaps to the defence of West Coast Eagles young gun Harley Reid
One of the AFL’s best players wants seemingly unsettled West Coast Eagles teenager Harley Reid to “play some good footy and enjoy himself”.
AFL
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Two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale says “people need to lay off” West Coast Eagles prodigy Harley Reid, whose troubled start to the season has raised concerns about his attitude.
After an ordinary and sometimes petulant display in West Coast’s round-1 87-point loss to Gold Coast, Reid’s weekend performance against Neale’s Brisbane Lions at the Gabba was again questioned.
The 2023 No.1 draft pick gave away seven free kicks and was criticised for a scuffle on the turf with Lions veteran Dayne Zorko and an exchange with Brisbane fans that included him giving a section of the crowd a middle-finger gesture.
However, Neale sympathised with Reid, believing the teenager was being unfairly targeted by outside “commentary”.
“I’ve seen a lot of commentary around him … I think people need to lay off him a bit and let him play footy,” the Lions co-captain and former Fremantle midfielder said.
“He’s a young man trying to find his way in a difficult environment, especially in Perth.
“I just want to see the kid play some good footy and enjoy himself, and at the moment, it probably seems like he’s not, and a lot of that is to do with the distractions outside.
“He’s a 19-year-old kid that’s trying to find his way … I don’t really blame him for the way he’s acting at the moment.
“I’m sure he’s got good people around him that’ll help. I just want to see that kid do really well, and hopefully we see the best of him in a West Coast jumper.”
Reid has been issued with a “please explain” by the AFL for his middle-finger salute.
Melbourne Demons great and AFL 360 co-host Garry Lyon said Reid was “making it hard” for himself.
“But he’s 19, learned a lesson and learned it the hard way,” Lyon said.
“He’ll get there.”
Originally published as Lachie Neale leaps to the defence of West Coast Eagles young gun Harley Reid
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