AFL 2024: All the latest MRO news as Harley Reid’s tackle and Sam Darcy’s ban turns Rising Star race on its head

The Rising Star race has been turned on its head after Harley Reid’s two-game ban, with calls now coming for the eligibility of big awards to be changed.

The AFL has been urged to remove suspensions from the Rising Star and Brownlow Medal eligibility after West Coast sensation Harley Reid was banned for two matches for a dangerous tackle.

The Rising Star award hot favourite Reid and Western Bulldogs’ jet Sam Darcy are ineligible to win the AFL’s best young player award after they were suspended across the weekend.

Reid has been the clear standout this season but received a two-match rough conduct charge for slamming young Saint Darcy Wilson into the turf on Saturday, dashing his Rising Star hopes.

It has also cost the Eagles’ powerhouse $40,000 total including a $20,000 cash prize and a $20,000 uplift on his deal next year.

Wilson returned to his feet quickly and played on after the dangerous tackle, saving Reid from a longer suspension as the Eagles prepare to take on North Melbourne in Perth on Saturday.

It leaves young Kangaroos Colby McKercher and George Wardlaw as the new favourites to win the Rising Star ahead of Wilson and Demons’ wingman Caleb Windsor.

Collingwood and Carlton superstar Dale Thomas said the fairest element should be removed from the Rising Star and Brownlow Medal eligibility considering recent crackdowns on head contact.

Harley Reid's tackle on Darcy Wilson. Picture: Fox Footy

“The way the game is going with how it easy it is to get suspended, I think it should change for the Brownlow as well,” Thomas said on Triple M.

“Now it is just going to be who is the luckiest (player) at the end of the year.”

Former Cats’ champion Steve Johnson agreed Reid should not have the Rising Star award removed his grasp following the tackle.

“The suspension should have nothing to do with it (Rising Star),” Johnson said.

“There was no malice in it (tackle).

“What is ironic is he (Reid) has tackled the player who can now win the Rising Star (Wilson) because Sam Darcy is probably the other Rising Star favourite and he has been rubbed out for two weeks.”

Reid is out of the Rising Star race. Picture: Fox Footy

It means Reid will follow Corey McKernan in 1994 who was suspended and ineligible to win the Rising Star award which was instead handed to former Brisbane Lion Chris Scott.

North Melbourne’s McKernan also missed out on the Brownlow Medal in 1996 because of a kneeing charge when he topped the count with James Hird and Michael Voss on 21 votes.

The following year Western Bulldogs’ Chris Grant was also ineligible due to a one-match striking suspension when he polled 27 votes, one ahead of the 1997 winner Robert Harvey.

West Coast could consider challenging the Reid suspension but the chances of success appear limited due to the AFL’s hard line stance on dangerous tackles.

North Melbourne could have drafted Reid if it had not beaten Gold Coast in the final game of the regular season or struck a trade with the Eagles.

West Coast wanted picks two and three as a minimum in return for handing North Melbourne pick one (Reid) in the trade period last year.

Instead North offered West Coast pick three and three late first-round picks in exchange for pick one, which was not accepted by the Eagles.

Coach Adam Simpson says he won’t discourage Reid’s aggression. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos

Former St Kilda great Leigh Montagna backed North hard nut Wardlaw to win this year’s Rising Star award in Reid’s absence.

“It’s wide open. It’s going to be who has a big last 10 or 11 weeks of the year,” Montagna said.

“I’m still going to put my faith in George Wardlaw, he will continue to get better.

“I love the way he plays. His numbers won’t probably stack up like some other first or second-year players but I think the impact he is making at that club over the back end of the year he might still win it.”