Harley’s hype, Cadman’s calm: Tale of Two Cities for No.1 draft picks ahead of Giants vs. Eagles clash

The two most recent No.1 draft picks really couldn’t have had more different entries to AFL life. Aaron Cadman was granted relative obscurity when he joined the Giants, but Harley Reid has been splashed all over the papers.

Harley Reid has been one of the most-hyped No.1 draft picks in recent memory. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Sam Taylor noticed it the moment he returned to Western Australia over the off-season.

The 24-year-old Giant, who originally hails from just outside of Perth, was back home to visit family and friends. While he’s become accustomed to the relative level of anonymity he is afforded in Sydney, he still couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Across the news bulletins and plastered across every back page, it was Harley-mania.

“Yeah, it is a bit much,” Taylor said.

“I swear every night on the news it was, ‘Harley Reid this, Harley Reid that’.

“He seems like he’s gonna be a very good football player. So, I think they just need to let him be and let him play footy because the rest will follow.”

The spotlight has been on Harley Reid all summer in Perth. Picture: The West Australian

The pressure has been place on Reid to try and help the Eagles off the bottom of the ladder. Picture: The West Australian

Western Australians will get their first chance to watch Harley Reid in action this Sunday when the West Coast Eagles host the high-flying Giants.

The 18-year-old impressed in his first showing for the Eagles against Port Adelaide in round one, finishing with 16 disposals and five clearances.

But it’s not underselling it to say there has never been more pressure placed on a No.1 draft pick in recent history.

Reid has been the subject of dozens of back pages in the local WA tabloids and faced incredible scrutiny throughout his draft year. Would he actually want to live in WA? When was his plane landing in Perth after he was selected?

Nothing seemed to be off-limits in the coverage of a kid who had barely finished school and just wanted to play footy.

Reid had a solid start to life in the AFL with 16 disposals and five clearances against Port Adelaide. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

However, the obsession will become even more apparent on Sunday afternoon when Reid comes up against the other most recent No.1 draft pick, Aaron Cadman.

Footy is clearly on a different level in Western Australia, particularly for a West Coast fan base rebounding from just the second wooden spoon in their history, but the pair’s start to life in the AFL couldn’t have been more juxtaposed.

The 19-year-old key forward was also the hottest prospect of his draft year after an impressive Coates League campaign. GWS even traded up to him, so desperate were they to make him the future of their forward line.

But the beauty of making the move to Sydney is that Cadman has been afforded the time to mature and develop at his own pace.

In his debut season, he only kicked six goals in 12 matches but there was never any sense of panic. The Giants were happy to remain patient and give him the time needed to progress as a young, key forward.

Now in his second season, Cadman has finally claimed his spot in the Giants’ forward line. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“He complements who we have up (in the forward line) already and I see him in years to come taking over and being the man,” Adam Kingsley said in December.

The Giants quickly emphasised their faith in Cadman by locking in a two-year contract extension this summer. He has since rewarded them with four goals in his first two matches of 2024 after a summer where his physicality has gone to another level.

There’s no doubt that both Cadman and Reid are likely to dominate the AFL across the next decade or more. But as a result of the increased scrutiny, and the two side’s opposing ladder positions, one will be under more pressure this season through no fault of his own.

It was a point emphasised by Eagles coach Adam Simpson following Reid’s debut. The teenager, as well as the club’s other debutants, need time to grow.

“They are all not the finished product so as long as we temper our expectations and know if they contribute and do enough to hold their spot, then we’re pretty happy,” Simpson said.

The early signs suggest that his words have worked. In the lead-up to Reid’s first clash at home, The West Australian newspaper instead turned their attention to the Giants, labelling the club’s four WA-born players as ‘Traitors’ despite the fact none of them turned their back on Perth.

The back page of tomorrow's The West Australian. pic.twitter.com/F8C5X5oqnw

— The West Sport (@TheWestSport) March 21, 2024

“That’s their passion,” Giants coach Adam Kingsley said. “So, they’ll try and unsettle us as best as they can, whether that’s in the paper or with the crowd.

“They’re passionate supporters over there. They love their teams and so they’ll do whatever it takes to try and help and so we have no issues with it.”

The Giants will still be feeling plenty of pressure when they head west to take on the Eagles on Sunday. They have only come away with one win from nine matches at Optus Stadium, while were one of just three teams to lose to West Coast last season.

For a team who many consider to be premiership favouries, defeating last year’s wooden spooners is a high priority for Kingsley’s side.

“Clearly in my time here I haven’t won (in Perth),” Kingsley said. “So, we need to rectify that and get over there and try and fix that.

“I don’t think it’s concerning. It’s just one of those things that you want to try and right if you can.

“We know that they’re going to compete and really trouble us in some areas. So, we’ve got to make sure we’re switched on and playing our best brand of footy.

“We thrive on that challenge of trying to beat teams on their home deck and this is the first challenge we will have this year in that sense. So we’re excited about it.”

Originally published as Harley’s hype, Cadman’s calm: Tale of Two Cities for No.1 draft picks ahead of Giants vs. Eagles clash