Emerging star Harley Reid shapes as a leading contender for the AFL Players’ Association’s Best First Year Player award after his brilliant debut season.
The No.1 draft pick, who is ineligible for the Telstra Rising Star award due to a two-match suspension, is West Coast’s nominee for the prestigious AFLPA gong.
The winner is set to be announced during the AFL Awards evening in Melbourne on Thursday, when the All-Australian team, AFLPA MVP, Rising Star and various other gongs are revealed.
The list of AFLPA Best First Year Player award winners is littered with big names, including Nick Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli, Isaac Heeney and Jeremy Cameron.
Premiership-winning Eagles stars Daniel Kerr and Chris Judd received the award in back-to-back years (2001 and ’02), while Tim Kelly took out the gong at Geelong in 2018.
Reid averaged 18.6 disposals, five clearances and four tackles in 20 games this year, while also kicking 10 goals.
Meanwhile, West Coast co-captains are in the running for the AFL Players’ Best Captain award.
