West Coast Eagles youngster Harley Reid facing ban over ugly act

West Coast Eagles youngster Harley Reid is facing a costly AFL suspension following a dangerous tackle on a rival on Saturday.

Harley Reid just cost himself the rising star

Harley Reid looks to have just cost himself the AFL’s Rising Star award with a dangerous tackle on Saturday.

The West Coast Eagles young star had turned it on in the opening half with 17 disposals against St Kilda in front of his home fans.

Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

But the Saints made the change in the third quarter to slap Marcus Winghager on him with a hard tag.

In the latter stages of the third quarter the emotion appeared to get the better of Reid as he wrapped his arms around Darcy Wilson and slung him to the ground on the boundary line.

The impact of the tackle saw Wilson’s head slam into the Optus Stadium turf, leaving him in a bit of agony before he got back to his feet and took his free kick.

Wilson ultimately came from the ground and was checked over by the Saints medical staff before he took his place alongside Reid to start the fourth quarter.

Watch the incident in the video player above

The move of Windhager onto Reid worked wonders for the Saints with Reid only collecting three disposals in the second half.

After leading by 14 points at half time, the Eagles couldn’t keep up as the Saints took control and claimed the 12.10 (82) to 10.8 (68) victory.

Reid picks up Darcy Wilson. Credit: Fox Footy

“He (Wilson) is not well,” David King said on Fox Footy.

“That’s a tackle we have to take out of the game.

“That’s the sling. Head hits the ground – it’s everything we don’t want. I’m sorry.

“If that is elevated to a suspension – we hope the young fella is alright first and foremost - if he has suffered a concussion, I think the Rising Star favourite is in a world of pain.

“The tackle, the action - it’s a problem for him.”

Will Schofield added: “That will be suspended, I don’t think there’s any doubt about it.”

Betting markets for the Rising Star award were suspended in the wake of Reid’s tackle.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson wasn’t too concerned speaking about the incident post-game.

“I’m restricted a little bit,” he said in his press conference.

“I thought there was nothing in it. That’s what I’ll say.

“He’s 10-11 games in, he’s 19, he was sensational in the first half. So understandably he’s going to get some attention. We’ve got his back. We’ve got to deal with it as we go.

“His first half was blistering.

“I spoke to him – it was like, ‘mate I didn’t think there was much in it so keep going. Keep working through the tag’.”

Reid dumps Wilson as his head slams into the turf. Credit: Fox Footy

Footy fans were convinced the tackle from Reid would result in the youngster being handed a ban from the match review officer.

One wrote: “Yeah he’s getting weeks for that.”

A second added: “Bye Bye Harley you can enjoy a nice week in Melbourne at home.”

A third wrote: “It’s a week at a minimum. Should not get off on appeal. That’s exactly what we’ve been told the AFL don’t want from tackles.”

Some fans weren’t convinced and said the MRO could pull a rabbit out of a hat and not even hit the youngster with a ban.

“Didn’t look great. Player not concussed so who knows what MRO will do. Flip a coin maybe,” one fan wrote.

The Reid incident came the same weekend that Western Bulldogs forward Sam Darcy was ruled out of the race for the award with a two-match suspension for a careless hit on Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard.

Darcy entered round 12 as the second favourite for the award behind Reid.