Harley Reid’s management begins negotiating with West Coast as Bombers, Vic clubs hunt signature

Harley Reid has given the biggest indication of where his short-term future lies as a big club is keen to chase another big fish despite being burned.

Harley Reid’s management has engaged with West Coast in contract talks on a new deal in the strongest sign yet that his future lies in Perth.

The Eagles met with Reid’s representatives at Connors Sports Management in April and tabled a series of offers including three and five year deals past his contract expiring next year.

At that stage Reid was seen as intensely homesick and considering his future after a poor summer where he battled niggles and lacked fitness.

But Reid’s management has in recent weeks put a counter-offer to the Eagles, with one of those potential deals a long-term offer.

It is significant development given the Eagles had been met with radio silence for months as they tried to re-sign Reid.

The Bombers have a big draft haul if they wanted to try and nab Reid. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

A new deal would shore up Reid’s financial future given he is being paid a pittance of the deals he could secure in Victoria with rivals expected to offer 10 year deals at up to $20 million.

A three-year deal would give him a chance to get to six total seasons at the Eagles like Chris Judd before re-signing or returning to Victoria.

While those talks will continue it is the best sign yet that he is prepared to commit rather than let his contract drift to the end of 2026.

While Reid continues to be a lightning rod for controversy he was spectacular in the first half against Richmond with precise kicking and 20 first-half possessions.

It comes as Bombers coach Brad Scott declared Essendon would be all-in on Harley Reid if the Eagles star declared he wants to come home.

Scott said the club’s past chase for big fish had backfired for the Bombers but clubs could not ignore Reid’s talent.

The Essendon coach is aware the Dons have one of football’s best draft hands in 2025 with two first-round picks currently at selections five and six on the ladder and a pair of second-rounders.

It would give the Dons and Richmond (with picks two and three) the whip hand in any chase for Reid, who is contracted to 2026.

Essendon fans are demoralised with the form of top ten picks Archie Perkins and Elijah Tastas, while fellow early selection Nik Cox is battling concussion concerns that have jeopardised his career.

But Scott said the club’s chase for ready-made stars had been more of a concern to the club’s list build.

The Dons gave up two first-rounders for Dylan Shiel and outlaid draft capital on Devon Smith, while their trade for GWS mid Jy Caldwell has been more of a recent success.

Scott told ABC he was torn between trying to find a ‘diamond’ like Reid and his own philosophy of building from within.

Asked if Essendon was chasing Reid, he replied: “I think the simple answer to that is there wouldn’t be a club in the competition who wouldn’t have interest in a player of that calibre.

“ If you are not in the game these days you are out of it. My view has always been players who are contracted to that club are committed until they say otherwise and I haven’t heard anything from Harley’s management group that suggested he wants to be anywhere other than West Coast so until that time comes we will respect that.

“But if there was a time that like any player who declared they were on the move we would want to be in the game. We need all of the above.

“We need early picks but I am very biased towards building teams rather than buying them and I love investing in the draft and investing in your players. Our club is in a difficult position partly because we did go hunting for big fish previously and we need to build a really solid base of good quality players before we are looking for the one player solution.”

Reid has connections with the Bombers. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Scott used the example of the club’s No.39 draft selection Angus Clarke as a reminder of a draft-led strategy, thrilled the club moved up the draft order to snare the hard-running wingman.

“I think Angus Clarke is always one that stands out to me in that scenario. All clubs are always delighted to pick a player in the draft but we traded up and we have done that a couple of times in the last two years. We really looked to pick apart that part of the draft from 30-50,” he said.

“Two years ago we unearthed Archie Roberts. We traded up to get him and we think he’s a fantastic prospect and at 19 years of age he’s already a leader.

“Clarke was the same. We were rapt to get him at that pick. We thought he would develop for a year or two but we had to expose him straight away. He kicked three goals on debut in the Dreamtime game and he’s got a lot of work to do but he’s a player who ideally we don’t want to see go out of our side regardless of the injury situation.”

Originally published as Harley Reid’s management begins negotiating with West Coast as Bombers, Vic clubs hunt signature