Hawthorn urged to use secret weapon Sam Mitchell in Harley Reid swoop
Sam Mitchell is set to play a major role if Hawthorn is to land the AFL’s most in-demand player, as Harley Reid considers his future at West Coast.
AFL great Luke Hodge believes Hawthorn are in pole position to snare Harley Reid from West Coast in the next 12 months as his relationship with coach Sam Mitchell comes to light.
On Friday, Reid and Mitchell spent time together at ex-Eagle Tom Barrass’ wedding in the Perth suburb of Cottesloe and even sat together at the event.
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Although Hodge shut down suggestions that Mitchell would have used the opportunity to convince Reid to become a Hawk, he believes the Hawks coach is in the best spot to bring him home to Melbourne.
But the Hawks legend warned if he doesn’t move quickly other Victorian clubs could swoop first.
“Harley is a Victorian boy … if any Victorian clubs aren’t trying to throw something towards him, you’re crazy,” Hodge told The Nightly.
“He (Reid) is one of those players that once he gets his fitness up, once he understands the game and has a bit of experience, he’s going to be one of those dominant players for 10 or so years.
“I don’t think ‘Mitch’ would have said anything to him there (at the Wedding) but I tell you what, if they (Hawthorn) don’t do it in the next 12 months, I think all Victorian clubs will.”
It comes just months after Barrass opened up about how Mitchell convinced him to join Hawthorn after flying over to Western Australia to hold a secret meeting with him.
Mitchell and his wife Lyndall were said to have convinced him that the Hawks was not just the best move for his footy career but for his family’s future.
It isn’t the first time the couple have pitched their way to a top talent, with Josh Battle also joining the club off the back of his best year yet at St Kilda.
After signing with Hawthorn, Battle admitted he was unsure whether to stay or go until he met Mitchell and his wife Lyndall.
And following that meeting, he said knew Hawthorn was where he and his family should be.
“I just think right now the direction I am heading in, what is best for my family environment. I feel like the values and morals align the way the Hawks hold themselves, in terms of what I connected with kind of there, what Sam (Mitchell) underpins,” he told Code Sports.
And Mitchell’s next target is reportedly superstar youngster Reid.
Reid is contracted with West Coast until the end of 2026 but is expected to draw huge offers of up to $2 million a season for his next contract.
Harley Reid’s partner may play huge role in his AFL contract decision
The 19-year-old is understood to be open-minded about his future in Western Australia but isn’t going to be rushed into committing to the club long-term.
A large factor in his decision to stay or go could come down to Mitchell and also what happens with his partner and current Carlton AFLW player Yasmin Duursma.
Duursma has been in Perth with Reid since the end of the most recent AFLW season but she will soon return to Victoria to start pre-season.
Her presence in Western Australia has reportedly helped Reid settle in Perth.
However, with Duursma and Reid’s family in Melbourne, it could sway him to take up an offer at a Victorian club.
Duursma is also the sister of Essendon wingman Xavier and North Melbourne forward Zane, and those clubs will also be undoubtedly keen to use any pull they have to lure Reid, who is widely considered to be the best prospect of the last decade.
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.
So if their romance is to continue to blossom it would appear most likely Reid would be the one who would move.
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