By Marc McGowan
Harley Reid – the wonder kid hotly tipped to be the No.1 pick in this year’s AFL draft – wasted no time reminding recruiters of his ability with a blistering start to the under-18 championships on Sunday.
The 18-year-old from Tongala, in regional Victoria, played for the first time in a month, after being concussed on AFL Academy duty against Carlton’s VFL side.
Harley Reid (right) kicked three goals for Victoria Country on Sunday.Credit: AFL Photos
Country coach Paul Corrigan, who is also in charge of the Geelong Falcons, stationed Reid in the goal square, and he responded with three goals in the first 10 minutes to put South Australia on the back foot at Ikon Park, which was full of recruiters and agents.
But the South Australians bounced back to win their first match of the championships after two defeats, beating Country by 19 points thanks to five goals from Adelaide’s 2024 father-son candidate Tyler Welsh, the son of Scott.
Sixteen-year-old Welsh made his carnival debut after recovering from a back stress fracture.
Highly rated draft prospect Jack Delean kicked four of his own, while bottom-ager Sid Draper (29 disposals, four clearances) – brother of Collingwood’s Arlo – continues to push for All-Australian honours with another excellent performance. Potential first-round pick Ashton Moir also showed his class.
Reid (14, five clearances) had three opponents by early in the second term, with Alex Holt, Will Patton and Bodie Ryan all having a turn on the budding superstar, who is consistently compared with Richmond champion Dustin Martin.
He did not add to his goal tally but had another set shot and almost kicked a fourth, after he brushed off a defender then snapped towards goal before teammate Joel Freijah marked on the goal line and made sure of it.
Reid went into the midfield in the third quarter when South Australia worked their way on top and after Cooper Simpson hobbled off with a badly corked thigh, with Corrigan pleased with the young gun’s display.
“We knew he was a bit underdone from a match conditioning point of view, so we wanted to play him predominantly forward, and he was super early and really dangerous one on one,” Corrigan told The Age.
Zane Duursma impressed for Victoria Country on Sunday.Credit: AFL Photos
“That’s the way we wanted to try and expose SA, and we did that really well at the start, but after that SA stepped up their intensity and pressure and got on top in contested ball, and were able to keep the ball off us at times.
“But we were pretty happy with Harley’s first match back, and we thought he added great value to our side. We didn’t intend to put him in [the midfield as much] but we felt we needed a point of difference.”
Crows father-son prospect Tyler Welsh starred for SA.Credit: AFL Photos
Reid is the reason there is an aggressive bidding war for the top selection in November’s draft, which bottom side West Coast currently holds.
Greater Western Sydney – who traded up to the No.1 pick to select Aaron Cadman last year – and Melbourne are among the clubs keen to move up to snare Reid. Both hold two first-round selections, but even that may not be enough.
Eagles football boss Gavin Bell told The Age last month that they would “keep an open mind to any options” if they found themselves in pole position in the draft.
They offloaded the No.2 selection in last year’s draft as part of a four-club mega deal that delivered them two first-round picks, which were used on Western Australians Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett.
Reid’s first goal was his easiest after a Darcy Wilson handball, but his next two showed off his immense talent. He produced a wonderful left-foot finish from deep in the pocket after a free kick, before beating everyone at the fall of the ball near goal then blasting through his third major, after Zane Duursma’s 50-metre attempt fell short.
Duursma, brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier and Yasmin and who could be the No.2 pick behind Reid, was one of Vic Country’s best with 20 disposals through the midfield, while big-bodied George Stevens (25, six clearances) and speedster Harry Demattia (21, seven inside 50s) also worked tirelessly.
Possible top-10 pick Darcy Wilson and left-footer Michael Rudd each kicked two goals for Country, who will next play on June 30 against Western Australia.
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