Harley Reid

From the moment Harley Reid burst through his first tackle on debut, shoulders shrugging off a defender as if the man were not there, the AFL understood it had a generational talent on its hands. The number one pick in the 2023 draft plays with a physicality and fearlessness that belies his twenty years — power through the contest, speed on the outside, and a skill level that draws comparisons with the game’s greats before such comparisons have any right to be made. Reid breaks tackles the way others break bread: naturally, without thinking, as if there is no other way to do it. He is the centrepiece of West Coast’s rebuild, the player around whom the Eagles’ next era is being constructed brick by brick.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

In just 48 games, Reid has already produced 22 goals and moments that will live in highlight reels for decades. His ability to win the contested ball, shrug off opponents and deliver the ball forward with precision is rare for any player, let alone one so young. In 2026, the Eagles build everything around their young star, and the football world watches with a collective sense of anticipation — the feeling that we are witnessing the very beginning of something extraordinary.

EC — Senior features writer, australiafootball.com