Mark Robinson: Tim Watson likens Harley Reid’s explosion to US basketball sensation Caitlin Clark

Tim Watson knows about being a footy star as a teen, and with Harley Reid’s explosion into our lives, the Bombers great tells MARK ROBINSON that the Eagle compares to a US superstar.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MAY 19: Harley Reid of the Eagles celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 10 match between Waalitj Marawar (West Coast Eagles) and Narrm (Melbourne Demons) at Optus Stadium on May 19, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The most famous footballing teen phenom, Tim Watson, has likened Harley Reid’s magnetism to US basketball’s female sensation Caitlin Clark.

Watson, who made his Essendon debut in 1977 aged 15 years and nine months, is captivated by the exploits of the West Coast wonder and says Reid, like Clark, has a nation tuning in to see what happens next.

Clark is regarded as one of the greatest US collegiate players of all time and enthralled sports-mad Americans with her dazzling three-point shooting.

In her first season playing for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA, Clark has spiked TV audiences to record levels.

“There’s certain players who can do what others can’t do – and Harley Reid is blessed with this explosive speed, it’s eye-catching, you can’t ignore it,’’ Watson said.

Reid has lit the flame at the Eagles. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Clark is revolutionising women’s basketball. Pic: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP

“The great thing about our game is when stars come along, these players set themselves apart from everybody else. There’s a sameness that can become apparent in our game, and then somebody steps forward and they just do things differently.

“I don’t know if you follow American basketball, but there’s a player called Caitlin Clark and to me, she is the Harley Reid story. She comes along and she creates all this interest … and when there’s someone phenomenally different the level of interest grows exponentially because of that.

“I think Harley Reid is doing that (in the AFL). It’s moving people. It’s getting people to take notice of a team that they probably wouldn’t be invested in otherwise.’’

Watson was once that “something phenomenal”.

In what was amazing then, and even more so now, Watson played 16 games in his first year, and averaged 12 disposals and kicked eight goals.

In his 38th game as a 17-year-old, Watson kicked 7.4 against St Kilda at Windy Hill.

When he was Reid’s age – 19 years and one month – he was closing the 1980 season with an average of 23 disposals. He also kicked 42 goals that season on grounds, mind you, that weren’t presented in the pristine conditions of today.

Reid, who has played just nine games, has Watson’s exceptional traits – body strength, explosive speed and footy smarts, which is a rare combination.

Many players have two of those attributes, the unique players have all three.

Reid’s two goals on Sunday were a celebration of football.

The first one was also rare. There’s plenty of goals kicked by on-ballers from the ruck tap – and usually the player is on the burst and ahead of the centre circle.

Harley Reid fends off Christian Petracca. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Not Harley. He gathered the ball on the bounce behind the centre circle, ran through the congestion, took three bounces on a desperately pursuing Christian Petracca and kicked the goal from just inside the 50m line.

One of the most underrated skills in football is being able to run at top speed and then be able to balance, get the timing right when dropping the ball, make perfect connection with the boot, and most of all kick it straight and – in this case – long. It’s such a gift.

His other goal was exquisite, rather than explosive. He ran towards a bouncing ball in the forward pocket, stopped, propped, gathered the Sherrin one handed, turned so that opponent Blake Howes fell forward of the contest, and then turned again and galloped off and kicked a “banana” goal.

His signature move came in the third quarter. He won the centre-square clearance, fended Clayton Oliver with his left hand and then transferred the ball into his left arm and fended Petracca with his right hand. It was a “Double Dusty”.

To have the awareness and ability to transfer the ball from one arm to the other, amid the frantic scramble to balance yourself so you can fend off and not lose your own feet, was breathtaking. It was Hurricane Harley.

Other players have had fabulous first-year careers, and one Collingwood fan on Monday rightly wanted Scott Russell’s 1990 season highlighted as a late 19-year-old.

The teenage star is footy’s hottest story. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

But few, if any, have rivalled Reid impact on a team and on a state of Australia.

Watson suggested Chris Judd as a football comparison, and of the modern players, it’s Sydney’s Chad Warner and Adelaide’s Izak Rankine, who can burst from stoppage.

After nine games, Reid is ahead of Judd on disposals and Judd is ahead on scores.

In Judd’s third season, however, he won his first Brownlow Medal.

“Are we forgetting Chris Judd’s first nine games?’’ Watson said. “Harley is more physical than what Juddy was as that first-year player. Some players try to avoid contact and he sort of welcomes it.’’

In another world, we’re all hoping Reid welcomes the media attention because it will be with him for the remainder of his career. The West Australian newspaper is the tearaway leader in the clubhouse in terms of Harley mania.

In Monday’s edition, it had a photograph of Reid on the front page, four images of him on the back page, and another three in the liftout. That’s eight photos all-up.

“The attraction of the game is the superstar talent who come along,’’ Watson said.

“That’s what captivates people and grabs people’s attention and that’s what this kid doing.’’

Originally published as Mark Robinson: Tim Watson likens Harley Reid’s explosion to US basketball sensation Caitlin Clark