Big league: Harley Reid is keen to get life as an AFL player started. Photo: AAP/Joel Carrett.
After two years of hype, the most highly anticipated draftee in history was finally confirmed as the number one pick on Monday night, with Harley Reid selected by the West Coast Eagles.
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Fronting a media pack on Tuesday morning alongside his fellow first-round draftees, Reid expressed relief that the constant speculation had finally ended.
“It’s awesome, I’m so relieved too, it’s just so good too for it all to be over,” he said.
“And like every other every other bloke that’s been drafted, I’m probably happy that it’s all over now and we can get into stage one again.”
Having been touted as the top talent in his draft class for the best part of 18 months, Reid’s status was confirmed as his name was read out by AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and he was presented with the famous No. 9 Eagles guernsey by its previous custodian, Nic Naitanui.
Reid’s new coach, Adam Simpson, was also on hand to congratulate the generational talent, before he received a warm welcome via video message from his new teammates, which now include Echuca export Noah Long.
The wait is over: AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon congratulates Harley Reid after the Tongala teenager was announced as the number one draft pick on Monday night. Photo: Morgan Hancock.
“It was actually pretty cool. Last night, once I got drafted, they had a little message thing put together from a few of the boys at the Eagles,” Reid said.
“Just saying they’re keen to get me on board and just wish me luck and that. It was cool to see his (Long’s) face on there and a few other senior boys and younger boys; that was a pretty cool moment for me.”
It has been a whirlwind few days for the Tongala teen, who is keen to return home and greet those who showed support for him at the football clubrooms on Monday night.
“No, I haven’t really (seen footage from the clubrooms), the last day and a bit has been flat out,” he said.
“My phone is just going off. It’s so hard to get some downtime to have a look, but I’m so keen to see how it went at the local rooms last night.”
The scenes of the packed rooms were of special significance to Harley’s parents, Mark and Vanessa, who appreciate the overwhelming local support.
“It’s a great feeling,” Vanessa said.
“We’ve got a lot of (relatives) there, and Tonny’s like one big community; they all love Harley. We played there, and the kids all grew up there.”
Mark, who played 401 games for the club, looked back fondly at having Harley and his two sisters, Hollie and Jasmine, grow up in such a close-knit community.
“(He’s been at the club) from when he was two, just kicking the footy and just followed us around, as we did with our parents with footy and netball,” he said.
“They (Harley and his sisters) followed us around, I remember any milestones and stuff, they ran through the banners. He probably will miss the ground, I think.”
Despite Reid now set to move to the other side of the country, Vanessa said the family were just grateful he had found himself in such a privileged position.
“We are all good; wherever he went, we would be happy,” she said.
“Some boys don’t get drafted, so he’s a pretty lucky boy to get drafted, and be number one. We always thought he was gifted, just natural talent, but we just let him do his thing, we’ve always been like that.
“We’re super proud parents, and I think all of Tonny is, really.”
Reid made his way home on Tuesday afternoon, with the Eagles arranging a plan to have their star recruit make his way out west.
“I don’t actually know (what the week ahead looks like), to be honest,” he said.
“I’ve got a meeting with the West Coast recruiting team today; I think they’re going to put a structure and plan in place for me to see what the next couple of days look like for me.”
