West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson has thrown his support behind young star Harley Reid following his controversial tackle on St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson during Saturday’s loss.
“I thought there was nothing in it,” Simpson said in his post-game press conference. “He’s 10-11 games in, he’s 19, he was sensational in the first half. So understandably he’s going to get some attention. We’ve got his back. We’ve got to deal with it as we go.”
The incident, which saw Reid sling Wilson to the ground, resulting in Wilson’s head hitting the Optus Stadium turf, is likely to result in a suspension for Reid. This has put his chances for the AFL’s Rising Star award in jeopardy.
Darcy Wilson received a free kick following this Harley Reid tackle.#AFLEaglesSaints pic.twitter.com/Rhs2htAPrs
— AFL (@AFL) June 1, 2024
Simpson defended Reid’s aggressive playing style while acknowledging that the young player needs to learn and adapt.
“I spoke to him – it was like, ‘mate I didn’t think there was much in it so keep going. Keep working through the tag,'” Simpson added.
Despite Reid’s impressive first half performance with 17 disposals, his impact was stifled in the second half as the Saints adjusted their defensive strategy to tag him with Marcus Windhager. This limited Reid to just three disposals in the latter half of the game, contributing to the Eagles’ 12.10 (82) to 10.8 (68) loss to St Kilda.
Commentators have expressed mixed opinions on the severity of Reid’s tackle, with some, like David King of Fox Footy, arguing that such tackles need to be removed from the game, while others, like Will Schofield, believe it did not warrant a suspension.
Now, fans and analysts are waiting for the Match Review Officer’s decision on Reid’s suspension, following the suspension of another Rising Star contender, Sam Darcy, for a careless hit.
Despite the controversy, Simpson’s support for Reid highlights the Eagles’ commitment to developing their young talent. As the Eagles continue their season, the focus will be on helping Reid learn from the experience of dealing with run-with roles and adversity as he continues to develop in his promising career.
