AFL National Championships U18: Harley Reid position revealed for Vic Country

Clear favourite for the number one pick, Harley Reid’s role in the upcoming has been revealed by his coach.

VFL : Footscray v Carlton at Port Melbourne oval. Potential number 1 AFL draft pick Harley Reid in action playing his first VFL game for Carlton. Picture: Ian Currie

Vic Country and Geelong Falcons coach Paul Corrigan has revealed where he will play outstanding prospect Harley Reid in the upcoming under-18s national championships.

The 2022 ‘runners up are set to begin their campaign for redemption on Sunday against South Australia after suffering a seven-point defeat in the final round of the season to hand the premiership to Vic Metro.

Corrigan said the clear number one prospect in the 2023 draft would primarily play through the midfield and forward line throughout the championships after spending much of the 2022 championships on the half back line.

Harley Reid is the clear favourite for the number one pick. Picture: Michael Klein

“I think it’ll be in that midfielder-forward mix, but we won’t be afraid to throw him behind the footy if we need to after what we saw him do last year,” he said.

“He’s been playing more as that forward and midfielder for Bendigo in the games that he has played, so he’ll probably start with that and we’ll see how he’s performing.

“He’s just a no-fuss type of player, he puts his head down and gets the work done, so I’m sure if we ask him to play a different sort of role he’ll really take that on with no worries.”

It will be Reid’s first game back from a concussion suffered in the AFL Academy match against Carlton’s VFL program. Picture: Michael Willson

Through Reid’s three games in the Coates Talent League this season he has averaged 22.3 disposals at 78.p per cent efficiency, 14.7 contested possessions, 5.3 clearances, 7.3 score involvements, four tackles and 1.7 goals per game.

He has also impressed against bigger bodies in the VFL for Carlton, averaging 17 disposals, six tackles, 5.5 contested possessions, 5.5 marks and five score involvements in his two games there.

Corrigan said Reid was every bit the top-line prospect football fans were salivating over, with the Dustin Martin clone set to be the first picked in the 2023 AFL Draft.

Reid has played two games for the Blues’ VFL side this year, and has still shone against more mature bodies. Darrian Traynor

“Obviously he’s got immense talent but we challenged him last year to play in the back line and he took it on board, he could’ve quite easily said he wanted to play midfield or forward,” he said.

“Instead he took that challenge and did it really well, he was super consistent for us through the carnival.

“He’s got that ability to play anywhere, he’s got that carefree attitude where he doesn’t get bottled down by mistakes, I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do.

“Whatever club is lucky enough to get him has got a good one.”

Originally published as AFL National Championships U18: Harley Reid position revealed for Vic Country