Few, if any, No.1 draft picks have entered the AFL with as much hype as the Tongala teenager, yet Reid somehow exceeded expectations in a tremendous debut campaign in blue and gold. Named to debut in round one, Reid played 20 games and kicked 10 goals as a pure inside midfielder – a feat that many draftees alone struggle to handle in their first seasons playing against seasoned bodies. The spark Reid gave the Eagles helped ignite early victories over Richmond, Fremantle and Melbourne, with a stunning display against the Demons earning him the first three-vote performance of his career and the Goal of the Year when he broke clear of a centre bounce, dashed to the 50m arc and converted to send fans at Optus Stadium into raptures. Reid’s two-game suspension for a dangerous tackle ruled him out of the Rising Star award, for which he was the red-hot favourite, but he was honoured with the AFLPA Best First-Year Player gong and West Coast’s Emerging Talent award. What he can achieve in his second season will be fascinating to watch as the Eagles embark on a new era under their new senior coach.
At a glance: Junior club: Tongala (VIC). Debut: -. Recruited from: Tongala/Bendigo Pioneers/Victoria Country (VIC). Brownlow votes: 7.
