West Coast’s no.1 draft pick Harley Reid kicked his first AFL goal on Saturday afternoon against Sydney – and celebrated with a jumper tug that raised a few eyebrows.
Reid has impressed in his first three games but opened the scoring for the Eagles at Mount Barker with his first goal in AFL footy.
The 18-year-old, who spent plenty of time forward to start the game, gathered cleanly and dodged a tackle before snapping truly on his opposite foot.
Daniel Menzel, in commentary for AFL Nation, could hardly have been more impressed.
“You can see why he is the no.1 draft pick, really good body control there, was able to pivot and get around (Lewis) Melican then throw it on the boot for a beautiful finish,” Menzel exclaimed.
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Harley Reid scores his first AFL goal and it was a beauty! 😍
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But it was the jumper tug that caught the most attention given Reid’s pathway to the Eagles. Amid suggestions West Coast shouldn’t, and then wouldn’t take the Victorian product, the Eagles refused to split the top pick and instead invested in what they believe is a generational player.
The jumper tug is a show of passion for a player’s club and gives Eagles fans a reason for optimism regarding Reid and his future in Western Australia,
“That was powerful, wasn’t it?” David King said on Fox Footy.
“That was a statement that ‘I am your man’.”
Reid is among his side’s best players at the main break, having kicked a goal from nine possessions while also laying three tackles. He also wasn’t afraid to give it to Swans defender Justin McInerney after a goal to Callum Jamieson gave West Coast the lead.
The Eagles are fighting to avoid starting the season 0-4 for the first time since 1989 and hold a slender five-point lead at the main break.