Harley Reid contract: Jon Ralph assesses West Coast rising star’s next options

With huge money on the table — and big offers coming from Victoria — there’s growing interest in Harley Reid’s contract call. JON RALPH assesses the state of play.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 01: Harley Reid of the Eagles looks to handball during the round 12 AFL match between West Coast Eagles and St Kilda Saints at Optus Stadium, on June 01, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

West Coast would have to hand returning midfield star Harley Reid a fourth-year deal worth up to $2 million to get him to extend his mandatory three-year contract.

The reason? Melbourne clubs have indicated they would be prepared to offer him 10-year deals worth up to $18 million if he was prepared to move back east.

Reid has given no indication he wants to move home and the Eagles continue to work hard to put offers to his management that might see him extend his current deal.

The Eagles are believed to be willing to open up the chequebook on that fourth-year option given it will – in effect – reward him for three years of being underpaid on the new three-season mandatory deals for first-round picks.

They are prepared to offer up to $1.5 million, but it isn’t likely to be enough.

Reid is in no hurry to sign a fourth-year extension but there is an obvious upside to him locking away his future until the end of 2027.

A deal of nearly $2 million in 2027 would allow him financial security in case something went drastically wrong from an injury point of view.

Players have been medically retired after a single concussion this year, so locking away that deal would mean he was locked into at least $3 million in total earnings across the first four years of his career.

Harley Reid has fast become a fan favourite in the west. Picture: Paul Kane

It would also give him the right amount of time to assess whether he eventually wants to remain a one-club player who can then sign that monster deal of 6-10 years at the age of 22.

A one-year contract extension also gives his management breathing space before the CBA expires in 2027 to assess what the value of the salary cap might be closer to that date.

The current salary cap will rise by 30 per cent over the 2023-2027 period so there is no reason it will not again skyrocket from 2027 onwards.

HARLEY REID, THAT IS SENSATIONAL 🤩#AFLEaglesDeespic.twitter.com/qCrS3mCEPY

— AFL (@AFL) May 19, 2024

Under new rules, Reid will be paid a $130,000 base and $4000 per game this year, but is ineligible for the Brownlow Medal and Rising Star so he cannot earn lucrative bonuses for 2024.

If he plays 18 or more games, he would add $60,000 to his base salary for 2025 so could make $300,000 in his second season.

But under those new rules, he cannot broker a new deal by his third season, so the Eagles would need to pay him a huge sum in his fourth season to make up for the fact he is so underpaid early on.

Connors Sports clients taken in the top 10 have customarily signed a two-year extension to their mandatory two-year deals before signing long-term deals or moving clubs.

A one-year extension now that those deals are mandatory three year contracts for first-round picks puts him on a similar time frame.

Harley Reid fends off Jimmy Webster. Picture: Paul Kane

While an $18 million deal over 10 years sounds extraordinary, it would be in line with the pay rise since Dustin Martin signed his $1.3 million per season deal over seven years in 2017.

Clubs would believe he would provide bang for buck in the peak of his career if they could secure him from 2027 and also provide infinite marketing value dragging in sponsors, crowds and brand appeal.

But if he stays in Perth he will have huge opportunities away from football, having already been able to secure a car sponsorship and becoming a brand ambassador for bed company Tempur alongside Ben Cousins.

Gold Coast does not have a single player with a regular TV or radio appearance deal but Reid could have his pick of the media deals he wants in Perth as a long-time Eagles player.

The Eagles can offer him some of their marketing fund in the third-year of his contract, and while that cash is strictly monitored by the AFL for fair worth, his huge appeal means the Eagles could justify handing him a huge chunk of change for his marketing value.