As the bidding war for the #1 pick begins, the Eagles challenge their opponents to “turn our heads.”
The West Coast Eagles’ list manager, Rohan O’Brien, says the team is still “leaning towards keeping” its premium first-round pick.
The Eagles are willing to pay a king’s ransom for the pick, and several AFL clubs are interested in acquiring Harley Reid, who is projected to be the top pick.
On Monday, O’Brien told reporters that the franchise had already received some interest, but not enough to persuade the Eagles to part with such a precious asset.
“We’ve only had a small number of calls (on Pick 1), to be honest. I anticipate it to rise in the following days when clubs are more certain about the picks they have made, he said.
“But so far, not much.
“If we had to make a decision today, I’d say we’re probably leaning towards keeping the pick and using it at the draft.”
Clubs and the AFL world have repeatedly discussed and worked out acceptable offers for the pick, but O’Brien declined to share his opinion on what may close a trade.
We haven’t actually given it a price since we believe that doing so would give the impression that we are looking to exchange it. People will gravitate toward that price if we put a price on it, he claimed.
“We’ll just wait and see what happens, and if someone gives us something that makes us turn our head, then we’ll consider it then.”
Some have urged the Eagles to divide the pick in order to increase their chances of landing multiple elite prospects rather than just one, as the team is trying to rebuild its list.
The possibility of Harley Reid returning home after his initial deal has also been brought up. He has great potential but runs the risk of doing so.
While acknowledging the transition would be challenging, Reid himself told foxfooty.com.au he would be “happy to go” to the Eagles if chosen by them.
“We feel quite comfortable playing with Harley or any other player. There are some great young men in this draft, according to the many boys we interviewed, O’Brien added.
“We believe there is a fantastic opportunity for us, whether it’s Harley or anyone else. We support the club’s decision to keep players, in our opinion.
“I consider the three-year guideline to be beneficial. It’s acceptable to compare it to the very best players and what that implies for them, but many first-round picks struggle to adjust to their new surroundings.
“Therefore, I believe the three-year rule is a good rule overall.”
No AFL draft prospect has arguably garnered more commentary and attention this year than Harley Red.
But the Tongala kid is more than simply external buzz, links to Pick 1, and handling fan social media comments.
In a 20-minute one-on-one interview with foxfooty.com.au, Reid discusses his tight-knit family, the possibility of relocating interstate, why 2023 was “hard” on the field, getting “papped” at Perth Airport, why smiling on the field is so essential, and who he would select with the first overall pick if he were West Coast.
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