AFL news: Likely No. 1 draft pick Harley Reid stars at Essendon training

Most potential AFL draftees train with a club to gain experience and learn from the best. But there was a kid at Essendon training this week who did more than just that.

AFL field umpire Matt Stevic.

The kid almost certain to be taken with this year’s No. 1 draft pick has shown he is already physically ready to enter the AFL.

Tongala’s Harley Reid, whose powerful midfield game has been compared to Richmond superstar Dustin Martin, shone late in Essendon’s match simulation session on Wednesday paired up against some of the club’s biggest names.

After a quiet start, Reid was moved into the centre square where he had a big impact late collecting multiple possessions in a single chain to showcase his strength in the clinches and penetrating kick.

Harley Reid impressed during Essendon’s match simulation session. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Recruiters have lauded Reid’s superstar qualities as a dynamic midfield-forward and have labelled the powerhouse ballwinner and goal kicker a certainty to be taken No. 1 in this year’s draft.

Reid already has an imposing frame, and after matching it against some of the Bombers’ star onballers on Wednesday, is expected to be far too strong for some opponents in the NAB League this year.

He has already signed with leading agent Nick Gieschen from Connors Sports in preparation for his entry to the AFL in November’s draft.

Measuring up at 185cm last year, Reid will be an enormous prize for the club which finishes in last place in 2023.

While North Melbourne and West Coast are favourite to rack up the least wins with bookies, Hawthorn has made big calls to part with star midfielders Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara and have lost key forward Mitchell Lewis to a serious knee injury.

Reid is the leading contender to be this year’s No. 1 AFL Draft pick. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

The Kangaroos have added some mature talent in the trade period while the Eagles are expected to regain some key players from injury this year including Oscar Allen and Elliot Yeo.

Reid was excellent for Vic Country in last year’s national championships and will again headline the annual carnival this season.

Other top fancies in this year’s draft include Zane Duursma, the brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier, and Nate Caddy, the nephew of former Geelong, Richmond and Gold Coast ballwinner Josh.

How AFL clubs plan to exploit new umpire move

The AFL will crack down on players who attempt to exploit the stand rule by faking handballs near the man on the mark this season.

News Corp can reveal the league has decided any player who fakes a handball in a bid to shift the man on the mark will not be awarded a 50m penalty in 2023.

A tactic emerged last season where players in possession would pretend to handball to tempt the man on the mark to move after they have been called to stand.

Under the old rule, any movement from the man on the mark would be penalised with a 50m penalty, which contributed to some harsh criticism of the new stand rule from sections of the industry.

The adjustment is being finalised as part of a likely announcement over the next week.

The stand rule tweak has been made in consultation with clubs after coaches and players expressed frustration about the tactic, which often triggered instinctive reactions from men on the mark.

The league will not make any major rule changes for 2023, but is continuing to trial four field umpires at match simulation sessions in the likely event it is rubber-stamped this season.

The trial includes new starting positions for the field umpires at boundary throw-ins which will help give the whistleblowers a more frontal view of the stoppage.

The man on the mark won’t be penalised if they move in response to a fake handball this season. Picture: Michael Klein

At Essendon’s match simulation on Wednesday, the field umpires watched the play unfold from closer to the boundary line which created more open space behind the stoppages at boundary throw-ins.

Clubs familiar with the trial are considering ways to capitalise on the increased space and enhanced scoring opportunities at the back of the stoppage for boundary throw-ins.

Bombers’ ruckman Sam Draper and star midfielder Zach Merrett utilised this area on Wednesday as Merrett ran on to a tap over the back of the stoppage.

Last year under the three-umpire system, at least one whistleblower would curl around the back of the stoppage as play unfolded which would block some space in an aggressive scoring zone.

But the league is trialing the new starting positions in a bid to increase the space and potential flow in the area closer to the middle part of the ground.

The AFL was pleased with the results and increased flow of play from the stand rule last season which stopped players from limiting access to the corridor on defence.

The league will assess the results of the four umpire trial in the pre-season before locking in the move.

Clubs are expecting it to be confirmed before the season-opener on March 16.