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Sam Watson • May 13th, 2025 9:04 am
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy has heaped praise on Essendon defender Zach Reid after his breakout game against the Swans on Saturday afternoon.
Reid had 27 disposals, 14 marks and eight intercept possessions in the Bombers’ eight-point win over Sydney, and Healy is in awe at how quickly the 23-year-old has improved since the start of the season.
“I don't think I've ever seen anybody improve as much in the space of six games,” Healy said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“I reckon Reid was a ‘maybe’ even at the start of the year… he is now flying as a player, intercepting, hitting targets, et cetera.”
Reid had a slow start to 2025 season, picking up 11 and 10 disposals in the Bombers’ Round 1 and 2 losses, but he’s since turned into one of the competition’s most promising defenders, and was rewarded with seven coaches votes for his Saturday night performance.
Healy also took the moment to remind listeners that Adrian Dodoro was the list and recruiting manager when Reid was selected with Pick 10 in the 2020 national draft.
“All of a sudden, a recruiting manager who’s no longer at the club, his record is starting to look a hell of a lot better,” he added.
Healy’s co-host Adam White was also prepared to make a big call on the Gippsland Power product.
“I think Zach Reid will be Essendon's best player since the Hird-Lloyd-Lucas-Fletcher era,” White said.
“He'll be Essendon's best player (in) 20 years.”
The Bombers now sit ninth on the ladder, but they’ll face a tough test on Saturday night when they play the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
