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Live sport this Sunday on SNMcQualter: We have a 20-year-old carrying our midfield
Jaiden Sciberras • July 20th, 2025 1:38 pm
Saturday night’s home defeat to the Richmond Tigers was somewhat of a reality check for the struggling West Coast Eagles.
A clash between the two bottom teams in the West, many gave the Eagles a chance at securing their second victory of 2025, and with both Liam Ryan and Tim Kelly returning to the lineup off the back of a hearty performance against Port Adelaide, all indications suggested the bottom-end contest would be a very tight affair.
That being said, the Tigers totally outclassed the Eagles, booting eight third-term goals to break the game apart en route to a 49-point victory at Optus Stadium, Richmond’s second win over the Eagles this season and their biggest win since Round 23, 2022.
While the outcome of the contest was far from what the Eagles had hoped for, the side was charged by yet another high-quality performance from their star young gun Harley Reid.
Following what has been a strong run of form, Reid was electric in the midfield, collecting 27 disposals, laying six tackles, extracting six clearances and kicking two goals despite the disappointing loss.
Reid’s performance was by far the highlight of the Eagles’ night, earning high praise from first-year coach Andrew McQualter.
“I thought Harley was by far our best player tonight,” McQualter said post-game.
“I loved the way he went about it; I loved his team-first approach, the way he attacked the ball, he was inspirational to his teammates. I loved the way he went about it.”
While the former No.1 pick’s performance was certainly one to be celebrated, the result of the game and the side’s inability to aid Reid in the contest led to some honest admissions by their head coach.
“We’re aware that we have a 20-year-old carrying our midfield,” McQualter continued.
“It’s not an easy position for him. We need help, (and) we’re going to work hard to give him help. We did a few things in the last quarter to give him a couple of different looks. He’s fighting his way through it.
“It’s a difficult position at the moment, but as a team we have to find more people and players, and ways to not rely on one person.
“There is no AFL team ever that relies on one player to be good. We’re going to keep working hard to find and create players that can keep an influence on the game.”
Despite the Eagles managing just one win from their 18 games thus far, cemented at the bottom of the AFL ladder and well on course for a second wooden spoon in three years, McQualter believes that Harley Reid is all in at the Eagles, promptly brushing aside any conversation of the star potentially seeking a move away from the West.
“I think if you see Harley, the way he’s invested… he is absolutely in,” McQualter stated.
“He’s a competitor, he’s wanting to do everything to get this club out of this position.
“Nobody likes losing, I appreciate that part of it, we all are sick to death of it to be honest, but we are the only people that can make a change.
“It’s people inside the four walls that can get us out of here and we have to do it together.”
Although the season is all but over for West Coast, a mighty challenge lies ahead as Fremantle hosts the 61st Western Derby next Saturday afternoon.
