Victorian clubs weighing up mammoth $18 million offer for West Coast Eagles sensation Harley Reid: Reports
Victorian clubs are reportedly weighing up a mammoth $18 million offer for West Coast Eagles sensation Harley Reid. The clubs are willing to offer the number one pick the huge contract over a 10-year period.
Reid's current contract with the Eagles ends in 2026 but the West Coast Eagles are reportedly only willing to offer him $2 million to extend his current contract to a fourth year.
Harley Reid is in no hurry to extend or consider other clubs. He is currently being paid $130,000 plus $4,000 per game and if he plays more than 18 games this season, he could be earning as high as $300,000.
“Harley Reid can accept the biggest deal in football history if he wanted to in three years,” Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“I think the expectation is if (the Eagles) are to re-sign him, it would be at $2 million, that’s the deal to compensate him. Victorian clubs have indicated to his management they would be prepared to go $18 million over 10 years," he added.
“I still think he doesn’t want to do that…The smart option is for him to get financial security and tuck the fourth year in. He’ll earn about $3 million over four years, as he should. Then you get the massive payday at West Coast or you consider the rival offers," he concluded.
West Coast Eagles CEO confirms Harley Reid contract talks
West Coast Eagles CEO Don Pyke, meanwhile, has confirmed that the club is in contract talks with flaming hot youngster Harley Reid to extend his contract beyond the mandatory 3 year-rookie contract.
The 19-year-old took the AFL world by storm after he was drafted in 2023 and immediately became integral to the Eagles setup. He was frontrunner for the AFL Rising Star award, with some even making Brownlow claims until he was suspended for two games due to a dangerous tackle on St Kilda's Darcy Wilson which makes him ineligible for both awards.
New AFL regulations state that top 20 draft picks are given three-year mandatory contract and can officially begin new deal negotiations after Round six. With this timeframe passed, the Eagles can begin talks with their new star.
Speaking to 7NEWS a few days ago, Don Pyke confirmed what all West Coast Eagles fans were eager to hear.
“These conversations are happening... We’re also dealing with a 19-year-old young man who is in his first year of footy … there’s not a massive rush to tie him down and get him to sign," Pyke said.
“There’s a human involved here and there’s a family as well and we’re sort of talking to him. He’s comfortable, he’s enjoying it. He’s frustrated he’s not playing at the moment, but he’ll be back in a couple of weeks," he added.
“The reality is he’s got three years. We could possibly extend him for a fourth and we’ll have a conversation about what that looks like beyond that as well," he concluded.
Harley Reid's suspension ends this week and barring any training injuries, he'll be back to face Hawthorn.