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The Victorian clubs ruled out by Harley Reid
Andrew Slevison • July 22nd, 2025 11:03 am
Harley Reid has reportedly ruled out several Victorian clubs as West Coast strives to keep hold of the young star.
Reid remains contracted with the Eagles for next year, but several rival clubs are having a crack at attempting to lure the 20-year-old back to his home state.
While Hawthorn is firmly in the mix, a number of Melbourne-based clubs are dropping off by way of Reid’s apparent desire to avoid joining a struggling club if he were to leave the Eagles.
Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson reports that Reid’s manager Nick Gieschen, from Connors Sports Management, has made it clear to clubs what they must be prepared to pay for the 2023 no.1 draft pick.
“Essendon’s view, and a few Victorian clubs’ view, is that they have been told by Nick Gieschen that unless we’re talking $1.5 million minimum over 10 years you’re not in the ballpark,” Wilson said on The Agenda Setters.
“The player and his family have made it clear they do not want to go to a struggling club.
“They’ve got no interest in St Kilda, no interest in (North) Melbourne.
“I’m not sure if they’ve got much interest in Essendon at the moment, but Essendon certainly have no interest in that sort of money. At that money they have (ruled themselves out).
“They think that Hawthorn is right in there. Hawthorn say there’s been no meaningful talks.
“Others say that Richmond and Melbourne are having a crack.
“I think West Coast also said to management that we’re not interested in that sort of money either. It’s ridiculous money for an unproven player.
“West Coast have come back to the table and we’re talking significantly more than $1.5m a year.”
It is understood that Reid has had an offer from the Eagles in front of him since April.
According to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey, Reid’s management has reportedly hit back with a counter-offer which is an initial two-year extension with the option of another nine years on “mammoth” money.
“A mammoth offer that would be a two-year extension plus an extension on top of that of another nine years, so an 11-year arrangement,” Twomey said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“This is ground-breaking in what it would mean for the West Coast Eagles and Harley Reid. It would be the biggest deal in AFL history.”
Twomey also indicated that the Hawks are desperate to lure Reid by offering a lengthy contract on massive money.
“Hawthorn are near on obsessed with Harley Reid and getting him to the club, they want him badly,” Twomey said.
“They are willing to go to eight-to-10 years at $1.7 million or $1.8 million to get him across the line.”
SEN regular and Channel 9 journalist Tom Morris also had some information on the Reid situation.
He summarised both Twomey and Wilson’s reports while further highlighting the possibility that the Tongala product could possibly exit Eagles this year.
“It’s moving. The fact that he’s contracted for next year doesn’t particularly matter,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“The Eagles’ position privately is if they feel he’s going to leave at the end of next year then he may as well go now because they’ll get more value for him being a contracted player. In saying this, they’d clearly like to keep him.
“Cal is very close to this situation. He’s reporting a two-year extension and a nine-year option beyond that. It’s very similar to what Josh Kelly signed at the Giants. It’s a Connor Sports Management thing where they sign a deal and then they have a handshake agreement that there’s an option to extend it long-term beyond that.
“That would be worth $20-25 million all up.
“There’s still a couple of Victorian clubs who are really keen and believe that they’re a chance to get him at the end of this year. Hawthorn is one.
“Caro is right there. He doesn’t want to go to a club that isn’t in the window for success and they would argue that St Kilda, North Melbourne and maybe Essendon as well aren’t in that window.
“That’s all got to play out but I still think there’s a real chance that he goes at the end of this year. But he changes his mind a lot and everyone at West Coast tells me that he’s entirely invested at the moment.
“It’s an intriguing situation. If he leaves West Coast or asks for a trade it would be to a club that potentially could win a flag in 2026.”
