West Coast Eagles young gun Harley Reid has been urged to rein in some “petulant” acts after two brain fades led directly to opposition goals in his side’s heavy 128-point loss on Saturday night.
The Sydney Swans claimed a 24.19 (163) to 4.11 (35) victory in Perth, handing the Eagles a reality check after they had won two games in a row.
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It was a demoralising defeat for West Coast, who had shown some promising signs in the opening few weeks of the season.
But Reid will want his time again after he gave away a couple of costly free kicks in the game that led to Swans goals.
Just before halftime, Sydney’s Brodie Grundy was awarded a free kick for a West Coast ruck infringement at the centre bounce.
In a rush to get back in defence, Reid scooped up the loose ball and tapped it to Isaac Heeney, when rules state the ball must be given back to the player who was awarded the free kick.
The umpire called a 50m penalty, bringing Grundy within range and he nailed the set shot from directly in front.
“They’re the disappointing aspects of his game that he’s got to stamp out,” David King said on Fox Footy.
“It’s just disheartening for the group when Harley just taps that ball away like that.
“It’s something he’s got to get out of his game. Just the petulant behaviour, hurting his team again.
“He’s better than that. He has such a positive influence on this team, and a negative influence at times.”
Commentator Anthony Hudson said: “Hero and villain, both roles he plays pretty comfortably now, Harley Reid.”
Adam Papalia added: “Grundy can’t believe his luck. Shake of the head by Harley Reid.”
In the fourth quarter, Reid was caught retaliating after his Eagles teammate Reuben Ginbey received an elbow to the head by Sydney’s Angus Sheldrick.
A free kick was awarded and James Jordon snapped a goal from the boundary to further extend Sydney’s lead.
“I think at some stage the coach has to remove the player from the field … there has to be a punishment or sanction internally for this type of behaviour,” King said.
“I love Harley Reid, I think he’s going to be an outstanding player and I love the desire and the want to be aggressive and confrontational.
“You’ve just got to still have emotional control and I think it’s a challenge for this player at this stage of his career. He’s got to get better.”
Jordon did a tagging job on Reid, keeping him to 10 touches in the first three quarters, before he collected seven in the last term.
With Elliot Yeo again sidelined with injury, curbing Reid’s influence allowed the Swans to run riot through the middle of Optus Stadium.
Eagles coach McQualter said they need to keep putting plans in place to support Reid.
“In my opinion, Jordon’s one of the best taggers in the competition, and I think [Harley] is not the first and he won’t be the last that he does that to,” he said.
“He’s just so good at it.
“We didn’t help Harley enough.
“We had some plans in place, but it’s going to be part of what we do going forward, because I imagine it’s not the last time that he’ll get tagged.
“We’re going to have to keep putting plans in place and supporting him.
“We tried quite a few different things and we moved him positionally a few times.”
It was a dirty day for Reid, with Isaac Heeney taking a specky on him.
McQualter moved Reid to halfback in the last quarter where he was able to get a few possessions.
But he was kept to well below his average of more than 24 touches, and almost five clearances a game.
He had one clearance and failed to hit the scoreboard.
Jordon also had 17 disposals, along with six tackles and four inside 50 entries. He also kicked a goal in the fourth quarter, to rub a bit of salt into Reid’s wounds.
McQualter said they need Reid at his best.
“It wasn’t quite the level he’s been at the last few weeks, but that’s what you get from a 20-year-old,” he said.
“That just becomes about the team, what you’re trying to stand for and trying to support your teammates, and try and get your best players into the game as much as possible.
“We need Harley playing great footy for us. I think that’s what is needed.
“So, his teammates have got to help him do that.
“That’s the first hard tag he’s copped this year, so we’ll have a look at it and we’ll get to work on it.”
– With NewsWire
