West Coast star Harley Reid is set to sweat on the AFL’s Match Review after an incident that left his Dockers opponent clutching his stomach on the Optus Stadium turf.
Reid will come under scrutiny for his elbow on Docker Matt Johnson late in the third term of the Eagles’ 70-point Western Derby loss on Friday night.
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Johnson had attempted to wrap his arms around Reid at the stoppage when the No.1 pick appeared to throw his elbow back, making contact with the Docker’s stomach.
Johnson reportedly “screamed out in pain” before immediately dropping to the turf, and was paid the free kick.
When asked if Reid would be in MRO trouble, premiership Eagle Will Schofield told Fox Footy post-match: “There’s two parts to this answer. Yes I think he’ll be in trouble with the MRO. Do I think he should be? No I don’t.
The moment before contact was made with Matt Johnson.Source: FOX SPORTSHarley Reid is set to come under MRO scrutiny for this elbow on Matt Johnson.Source: FOX SPORTS
“It’s pretty mild contact, it’s a glancing blow, very low impact. It probably gets him in a good spot, in the right spot. The AFL doesn’t want to see this in the game, but I think it’s play on to be honest.
“But I do expect it to be looked at.”
The moment capped off a frustrating night for Reid, who had been the Eagles’ best with a game-high 12 clearances and 30 disposals – 15 of those contested.
The Eagle had coughed up two free kicks in the opening term – both for off-ball moments, with the first leading directly to Fremantle’s first goal of the night.
West Coast assistants were seen speaking specifically with Reid at quarter time, after the youngster had confronted an umpire heading into the first break.
He ended up conceding four free kicks in total – while appearing to miss out on a few his own way.
Harley Reid coughed up four free kicks in the loss to the Dockers.Source: Getty Images
Coach Andrew McQualter wouldn’t be drawn into commenting on the Johnson contact, but said he supported his 20-year-old star.
“I haven’t looked back at the incident – I saw it happen live, the free kick (to Johnson),” he shared.
“It’ll be what it will be.
“(Reid) was our best ball winner.
“I think he had 12 clearances, 15 contested – almost double any one else in our team so I love the way he went about it.
“He had a few challenges throughout the night as well. We’ll keep supporting him and working with him.”
When asked what the conversation was with Reid at quarter time, McQualter replied: “We spoke to him about solutions”.
“We just refocused him. I thought he did that well after quarter time,” he said.
Reid remains the most penalised player in the AFL in 2026, conceding 54 free kicks heading into the Friday night Derby.
He then added four more to that tally.
McQualter confirmed the club would approach the AFL over Reid’s treatment by umpires – if they found an “inconsistency”.
“We will definitely look closely at it and look to get some clarity if we think there’s some inconsistency with the way Harley is being treated,” he said.
Harley Reid was not awarded a high contact free kick in this tackle from Shai Bolton.Source: Getty Images
“We’ll work with the AFL. We’ll go look at the tape – if we think there’s something there that’s worth asking, we’ll do it.”
Four-time premiership winner Jordan Lewis said there was a moment during West Coast’s loss that the umpire “needs to have a good look at”, with Reid not awarded a high tackle free kick against Shai Bolton.
“If Harley Reid lays that tackle, it’s against him you can guarantee that,” Dwayne Russell said in commentary.
But the incident with Johnson is the one that will draw the AFL’s attention.
“I think they’ll look at it the same as a stomach punch – I really do,” Lewis said of the elbow.
“In and around the contest, it’s one of those ones you don’t want to see in our game.”