West Coast mentor Andrew McQualter is supporting Harley Reid to excel right from the start, stating that the previous top draft choice is mature enough to cope with the pressure he'll face.
Last year, during his debut season, Reid made an impressive impact on the competition, putting together a collection of highlight plays that many AFL players would covet.
When the 19-year-old claimed the goal-of-the-year accolade, he left Melbourne's standout player, Christian Petracca, behind with a swift three-bounce run covering around 47 meters, ultimately slotting the kick through convincingly.
Reid's impressive scores and massive blocks were additional highlights that thrilled Eagles supporters.
The prospects of Reid elevating their performance further in 2025 appeared dimmer during the summer when the emerging talent grappled with multiple injuries.
After sustaining a slight concussion, Reid encountered persistent problems with his leg and sore ankles, which put a stop to his progress.
However, McQualter asserts that Reid is set to play in Sunday’s match against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium. The new coach holds great expectations for what his standout player can accomplish.
"Harley's set to go," McQualter stated on Thursday.
Many athletes experience various challenges during pre-season.
However, once players are selected, they’re chosen to compete at the AFL level. Therefore, Harley is all set to play.
As the previous season progressed, Reid turned into a prime target for taggers, and this strategy proved highly effective for opposing teams.
McQualter believes Reid will possess the resources needed to deal with any side that focuses on him.
"Should it arrive, we're prepared," McQualter stated.
And besides, he's grown up now and capable of taking care of himself, so we've got some strategies ready just in case.
I'm confident Harley can handle that.
There's a strong chance that Reid will face off against Gold Coast ace Matt Rowell on Sunday.
"Definitely, these are two formidable competitors, making their matchup quite thrilling to observe," stated McQualter.
Traditionally, Dimma (Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick) doesn't do much tagging, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out, but it could make for an exciting contest.
A factor that might limit Reid's impact during the initial part of the season is the unavailability of key player Elliot Yeo, the prominent midfielder, as he remains sidelined for approximately another five to seven weeks due to injuries in his ankle and knee.
Last year, Yeo and Reid created an enticing duo, however, without Yeo's presence, opposing teams will likely focus more on targeting Reid.
The Gold Coast team will lack Matt Andrews (due to chest issues) and Sam Flanders (with back problems) for their match against the Eagles. However, midfielder Lachie Weller (who has been dealing with a hamstring issue) and key defender Charlie Ballard (recovering from an ankle injury) should be able to take part in the game.
The West Coast team was planning for Bo Allan’s AFL debut, however, the No. 16 selection from last year's national draft won’t be playing because of an illness that caused him to lose several kilograms.
