Matthew Lloyd Urges AFL Legend to Share Unvarnished Truths with Harley Reid After Extended Favouritism

Matthew Lloyd has proposed that West Coast seek external assistance to support Harley Reid following a troubling series of undisciplined actions that have marred the young player’s season.

This season, Eagles coach Andrew McQualter has faced tough scrutiny during his post-game press conferences regarding incidents that have undermined West Coast’s scoring opportunities and momentum, often due to free kicks and 50-metre penalties against Reid.

During an appearance on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday, Essendon great Lloyd urged the Eagles to consider unconventional approaches to fix an issue that threatens to stunt the 20-year-old’s ascent to becoming one of the game’s top talents.

“I wonder if they have reached out to some external insight outside of West Coast,” Lloyd remarked.

“Imagine if Harley Reid had the chance to sit down with someone like Luke Hodge next time they’re both in Melbourne, or perhaps Jonathan Brown—who also struggled with discipline early in his career, facing suspensions two or even three times a year before turning it around for the benefit of his team.

“Perhaps bringing in a different perspective for him could prove beneficial. West Coast has likely supported him for an extended time without wanting to upset him, as they are keen to keep him. He already demonstrates that he embodies the spirit of the West Coast Eagles, but connecting him with an external voice could be precisely what he needs.”

After a tumultuous couple of years, the Eagles appear to be turning a corner this season, capturing two wins from their first five matches and currently sitting just outside the top eight.

They’re building a future that heavily relies on Reid, the star 20-year-old who enjoyed an exceptional rookie season in 2024 but has faced ongoing speculation regarding a potential return to his home state of Victoria.

This discussion has faded since Reid signed a lucrative two-year contract extension worth approximately $2 million per season last August.

This contract secures Reid’s position with the Eagles until the end of the 2028 season, giving the club aspirations for a positive trajectory that may see them back in finals contention.

However, McQualter’s evident frustration with Reid’s performance has emerged repeatedly this year, particularly following the club’s significant defeat to Geelong at the weekend.

Reid conceded five free kicks and a 50-metre penalty during the match, overshadowing a positive showing where he also scored a goal and collected 22 disposals.

“Harley let himself down in that area today and he is aware of that,” McQualter remarked.

“That’s not how we want Harley to perform. Nonetheless, there were aspects of his game that were commendable. We’ll continue to work with him, just as we do with all our players.

“He’s an exceptionally talented player. He’s vital to our team. However, we want him to remain crucial for us through the entire match. We need to make sure his discipline does not slip.”

These statements from McQualter followed a recent critique from Fox Footy commentator David King, who reprimanded Reid for what he termed “petulant” behaviour that resulted in a 50-metre penalty during a match against Sydney.

“Harley just taps the ball away—it’s unacceptable. He needs to eliminate this from his game,” King commented at the time.

“This kind of immature behaviour negatively affects his team again. He is far better than that.

“He has the ability to be a strong positive influence for the team, but at times he casts a shadow.”