Harley Reid faces two-game ban, missing first weeks of 2027 AFL season

Harley Reid, the 21-year-old West Coast Eagles midfielder, received a two-game ban for a high-impact tackle on Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe, forcing him to miss the opening rounds of the 2027 AFL season. Despite winning the club's John Worsfold Medal and the Geoff Christian Medal, Reid and the Eagles were unable to overturn the sanction, which he attributed to a regional "WA tax" that he believes would not have applied in Victoria.

Known for giving away more free kicks than any peer at this stage of his career, Reid also holds the Eagles' record for free kicks conceded in a single season, a by-product of his aggressive approach. He emphasized the need to balance intensity with smart contesting. The club is counting on Reid, alongside emerging talents Willem Duursma and Reuben Ginbey, to drive future success, supported by the newly established Matt Priddis Academy that aims to boost player development and cohesion.