West Coast Eagles CEO Don Pyke has raised concerns over the implications of a mega deal reportedly proposed by Harley Reid’s camp, an 11-year, $24 million contract extension, saying it could impact the club’s list strategy and put undue pressure on the young star.
Reid, the 2023 No.1 draft pick, is already contracted until the end of 2026, but talks have intensified around a long-term extension that would effectively tie him to the Eagles until 2035.
According to Fox Footy's On The Couch, Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph revealed that Reid would sign “in a heartbeat” if West Coast accepted a two-year extension to 2027, followed by a further nine-year deal, making up the $24 million package.
“He will not sign a two-year deal at West Coast. He would ask for a trade,” Ralph said. “There is guaranteed money in Victoria, and if he only signed for two years, he’d be passing that up.”
MORE: North Melbourne's recruiting strategy slammed by AFL great
'A lot of pressure on a second-year player'
Speaking to SEN WA, Pyke confirmed that discussions were ongoing and that Reid’s desire to stay was genuine, but the club needed to tread carefully.
“The pleasing part for us is that all indications from Harley and his management are he’s really happy here and he’s keen to stay here,” Pyke said. “It’s now just about working through the next bit, and we respect it’s a big decision for Harley.”
He added: “It’s a lot of money obviously for a player, which — does that limit your ability to add more players to your list? Obviously, it’s a lot of pressure on a second-year player around those sorts of numbers. So, we’re cognisant of those things.”
Pyke also confirmed that the club had entered “initial discussions” with the AFL regarding a priority draft pick, citing West Coast’s dismal performance metrics over the past five seasons.