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‘Watch’: Reid linked to rival club in bombshell move

‘Watch’: Reid linked to rival club in bombshell move

After just seven games of AFL, West Coast prodigy Harley Reid is already attracting some serious interest from rival clubs.

And there’s one that may be preparing to table a mega deal for the 19-year-old star.

Essendon has been linked to the 2023 No.1 draft pick and according to 9News Melbourne’s chief football reporter Tom Morris, will stop at nothing to entice him home to Victoria.

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“Harley Reid’s okay in terms of his contract,” Morris said on SEN Radio on Monday.

“There will be a big club that comes for him.

“I just want to put a watch on Essendon and a big offer.

“Just put a watch on this. I’m not saying it’s happened yet, but the Bombers and Harley Reid, there’s just a lot of chat about them at the moment.

“It’s one to keep an eye on.”

Reid is originally from Victoria and played for the Bendigo Pioneers before being drafted to the Eagles at the end of 2023.

He has already received a Rising Star nomination, collecting 27 disposals and kicking a goal in their 39-point win over Richmond in round five.

A week later, he kicked three goals and notched up 19 touches in their victory over rivals Fremantle in the western derby.

But it’s not just one club who has their eyes on the star midfielder, who has been likened to Dustin Martin with his signature fend-off move.

“I don’t reckon they’ll be on their own there in throwing a big offer at Harley Reid,” Kane Cornes said.

Reid has been dubbed not only the Eagles’ saviour, but Western Australian football’s greatest hope in years.

“I don’t think that since Chris Judd that somebody has had such an impact so early,” Nathan Brown said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show back in April.

“We heard he was a once-in-a-generation player and we’re seeing that in front of our eyes. They needed a leader to get behind.

“Who would have thought that a young man coming in, in his first season, could be that for a whole state of football?”

The Eagles are 2-6 after round eight and sit 15th on the ladder.

They’ll face off against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.