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

Matthew Lloyd has advised the West Coast Eagles to seek external assistance to guide Harley Reid in light of a string of indiscretions that have marred the young player’s season.

This season, Eagles coach Andrew McQualter has frequently faced scrutiny in his press conferences regarding incidents that have cost West Coast valuable goals and momentum, largely due to free kicks and 50m penalties incurred by Reid.

During Monday’s episode of Nine’s Footy Classified, Essendon great Lloyd urged the Eagles to consider innovative approaches to tackle an issue that may hinder the progression of Reid, a promising star at just 20 years old.

“I’m curious if they’ve engaged a different voice from outside West Coast,” Lloyd remarked.

“Imagine having Harley Reid sit down with someone like Luke Hodge next time they’re in Melbourne, or even Jonathan Brown. Brown once had a reputation for being undisciplined, often facing suspensions multiple times each year, but he managed to turn it around because he realised he was letting his team down.

“I genuinely think a different perspective could really help him. For too long, West Coast may have been indulgent towards him, hesitant to disrupt his development or risk losing him. However, Reid has proven himself as a key part of the West Coast Eagles; perhaps an external voice could really benefit his growth.”

After experiencing a challenging couple of years, the Eagles are beginning to show signs of improvement this season, having secured two wins from their first five games and currently sitting just one win shy of the top eight.

The team is now focusing on a future that heavily relies on Reid, who had one of the most remarkable rookie seasons on record in 2024, although he is often speculated to be eyeing a return to his home state of Victoria.

This talk has subsided following Reid’s signing of a lucrative two-year contract extension last August, purported to be valued at approximately $2 million per season.

This contract secures Reid’s future with the Eagles until the conclusion of the 2028 season, fostering hopes for a resurgence that could reignite finals aspirations.

Nonetheless, McQualter’s evident frustration with Reid has surfaced on numerous occasions this season, particularly following the team’s heavy defeat to Geelong over the weekend.

In that match, Reid gave away five free kicks and a 50m penalty, which overshadowed his positive efforts, including scoring a goal and accumulating 22 disposals.

“Harley didn’t perform well in that regard today, and he understands that,” McQualter noted.

“That’s not the style we want from Harley. However, I did see a lot of strength in parts of his game. We’ll continue to work with him, just as we do with all our players.

“He’s a very talented player and essential to our squad. But it’s vital that his discipline remains intact.”

McQualter’s remarks came shortly after Fox Footy commentator David King critiqued Reid for his “childish” behaviour during a game that resulted in a 50m penalty against Sydney.

“Harley just taps the ball away, and that’s simply unacceptable. He needs to eliminate that from his game,” King stated then.

“His immature behaviour is detrimental to the team’s performance. He has the ability to be a positive force for the team, but at times, he can have a negative impact.”