Essendon coach Brad Scott has confirmed the club’s interest in Harley Reid. Plus a ‘shock suitor’ has emerged for a Blue.

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BOMBERS HUNTING REID DESPITE ‘DIFFICULT POSITION’

Essendon coach Brad Scott says the club would be chips in on Harley Reid if the former No. 1 draft pick wanted to pursue a move back to Victoria.

However Scott is “very biased towards building teams rather than buying them,” suggesting the club’s previous pursuits of big-name stars has hurt its overall list build.

Reports over the weekend stated Reid’s management had approached the Eagles with what a contract extension could look like beyond 2026 in perhaps the best sign yet Reid’s future could be in Perth.

That includes the potential of a long-term deal that could be worth as much as $20 million in total.

The Bombers have two first-round picks — currently No. 5 and No. 6 — and two second-round picks in the 2025 draft, while Sam Draper’s potential free agency departure could net them an additional first rounder as compensation.

It puts Essendon in a great position from a trade sense should the club target players from rival clubs this off-season.

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And while Scott acknowledged every club should be in the market for a player of Reid’s quality, he emphasised that the Bombers wanted to continue to prioritise internal growth.

Asked on ABC if Essendon was into Reid, Scott responded: “I think the simple answer to that is there wouldn’t be a club in the competition who wouldn’t have interest in a player of that caliber.

“If you are not in the game these days, you are out of it. My view has always been players who are contracted to that club are committed until they say otherwise and I haven’t heard anything from Harley’s management group that suggested he wants to be anywhere other than West Coast so until that time comes we will respect that.

“But if there was a time that like any player who declared they were on the move we would want to be in the game. We need all of the above.

“We need early picks but I am very biased towards building teams rather than buying them and I love investing in the draft and investing in your players. Our club is in a difficult position partly because we did go hunting for big fish previously and we need to build a really solid base of good quality players before we are looking for the one player solution.”

PIES LINKED TO SILVAGNI

Could a famous Carlton name be on the move to an arch rival?

Collingwood has emerged as a “shock suitor” for Blues free agent Jack Silvagni, according to the Herald Sun.

The report states the Magpies have expressed interest in the reborn defender, who could be acquired for nothing as an unrestricted free agent.

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Silvagni is yet to make a call on his future with five weeks remaining in the home and away season. The 128-gamer was drafted to the Blues as a father-son pick in 2015.

The Blues have reportedly tabled the 27-year old a four-year extension. His father, Stephen, and grandfather, Sergio, are both Blues legends and member of the club’s team of the century.

The Pies have long been in the market for another defender including missing out on the likes of Tom Doedee and Mark Keane, while Nathan Murphy was forced into medical retirement at the end of 2023.

Silvagni could be a successor for Jeremy Howe, whose future at Collingwood is uncertain with currently no contract for 2026.