advice in tow<\/a>, there\u2019s little in the way of Harley and a genuine breakout campaign. <\/p>\n\u201cI think, just for me, to keep growing and developing my game both on and off the field,\u201d Reid told Foxfooty.com.au of his goals for the new season. <\/p>\n
\u201cSkill-wise, developing my skills to keep becoming the best possible player I can. And then off-field, there are some small things you can alter and change to become the best version of yourself that will help you then lead on-field. <\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to improve my running capability (and) being able to find the best weight I want to play at, alternating between stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Reid was thrown back for a portion last year, the 20-year-old expects to play a centre-forward role in 2026, archetypal of the game\u2019s modern-day stars. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking to head a bit down forward as well \u2014 that mid-forward role,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s where I can utilise my strengths and play to the best of my ability, so I think that mid-forward role will be where I\u2019ll mainly be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harley Reid is looking to become a mid-forward force in year three. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre\/AFL Photos\/via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Reid, buoyed by West Coast\u2019s revitalised midfield mix this pre-season, says the club\u2019s addition of depth through the guts will do wonders for the side. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been good, to be honest. I think, now, we actually have a bit of depth,\u201d he candidly said. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have to work for spots, and I think that\u2019s probably the first time in the three years that I\u2019ve been here that we actually have to, I guess, work for our spot (because) there\u2019s a lot of depth, so that … spots are up for grabs each week. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s been something that we\u2019ve loved having, and people have worked harder, trained harder.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Eagles went about bringing across fringe midfielders Harry Schoenberg, Deven Robertson and Fin Macrae, who have a genuine shot at cracking Andrew McQuater\u2019s on-ball rotation. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe likes of Harry Schoenberg; he\u2019s going to be a gun, I think he\u2019s going to roll straight in. He\u2019s looking to play that half-forward\/mid role, depending on whether he can crack the midfield,\u201d Reid said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got Jack Graham, Elliot Yeo \u2014 who\u2019s going to be back fit and firing \u2014 even Deven Robertson\u2019s trying to get a sniff in there, Elijah Hewett (is) trying to, obviously me trying to as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good; we\u2019ve got heaps of numbers that are trying to fill that mid spot, and there\u2019s a lot of people to choose from, and everyone\u2019s putting their hand up. So, come Round 1, selection is going to be bloody hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Previously a Crow, Harry Schoenberg has made a fast impression as an Eagle this pre-season. (Photo by Daniel Carson\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
And one in that aspiring mix is last year\u2019s midseason draft gem Tom McCarthy. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been outstanding in the midfield,\u201d first-year co-captain Liam Baker told Foxfooty.com.au. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s only been in the game six months, but hopefully he has a big impact for us this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing him in his first week of training last year, you think \u2018this guy\u2019s a gun\u2019, and seeing him now, it\u2019s amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy \u2014 literally \u2014 burst onto the scene in the second half of last year as a rebounding back flanker, but he\u2019s pushed into the engine room this summer and impressed in match simulation. <\/p>\n
Baker believes McCarthy, whom he recalls overlapping with during their time at Richmond, is all but set to have a centre-square impact this year for the Eagles. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been around the ball with Harley and Jack Graham; they\u2019ve got a good little mix there, it seems like,\u201d Baker said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think (he\u2019ll be at) centre-bounce. I\u2019m not sure what the go is come Round 1, but that\u2019s where he\u2019s been training.\u201d<\/p>\n
The dashing Tom McCarthy is set to move into the midfield this year after bursting onto the scene last season as a half-back flanker. (Photo by Daniel Carson\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Of the new recruits\u2019 impact thus far, Baker couldn\u2019t go past the No.1 pick from last November\u2019s draft, but also named a couple of the aforementioned midfielders. <\/p>\n
\u201cDuursma\u2019s pretty impressive, the way he looks. He moves so fast; his skills are unbelievable,\u201d Baker said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHarry Schoenberg\u2019s one, from the Crows, his inside work. Just how tough, and Deven as well, how tough they are inside, and just aggressive around the ball \u2014 it\u2019s what we\u2019ve lacked, being such a young group. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to have those boys on board.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for Duursma, who most suspect will play for West Coast in the early going this season, is settling comfortably into a wing role \u2014 but could play just about anywhere with his 193-centimetre frame. <\/p>\n
\u201cA little bit on the ball, but I just remember how long his arms were in handball games early days pre-Chrissy and just getting his hands into places, and his skills with ball in hand as well,\u201d Baker said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, having him around the ball would be a good thing, I reckon. Just being able to get in people\u2019s faces and his skills inside and out, so I suppose there are a few options there (for him), so it\u2019s exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harley Reid poses next to 2025 No.1 draft pick Willem Duursma. (Photo by James Wiltshire\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Baker raised unsung wingman Hamish Davis as a breakout candidate for the Eagles this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just a solid, smart footballer,\u201d Baker said. \u201cI think he\u2019ll play a number of games for us this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s one that you don\u2019t have too many people talk about, \u2018Hammer\u2019, when we\u2019ve got high draft picks on our team. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like he needs a shout-out, because his understanding of role, his want to push training standards, running … he\u2019s elite at all that. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe played a few games last year, half-forward and a bit of wing. He had that exposure, but I feel the way he knows the game, it\u2019s going to be exciting for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Davis, 19, played eight senior games in his debut season after arriving at Lathlain as the No.65 pick two drafts ago. <\/p>\n
Baker said Davis\u2019 \u201capplication to role\u201d is his best trait while he continues to develop at the top level. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe plays on the wing, so it\u2019s a lot of unrewarded running. Up and back, and a lot of people at home watching might think those guys aren\u2019t important, but those wingers are extremely important to winning games of footy. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it\u2019s good to see that there\u2019s a young fella in his second year doing everything he can to play as much footy as he can, and executing his role, which is exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dillon keen on expanding AFL to India | 01:41<\/p>\n
As for Baker, the 28-year-old utility called it \u201ca great honour\u201d to be handed the co-captaincy reins ahead of just his second year at the club. <\/p>\n
The dual premiership star has navigated a couple of niggles throughout the pre-season, but has his eyes firmly set on the upcoming practice matches. <\/p>\n
And while the tough 151-gamer is capable of pushing into the midfield previously, he expects to settle at half-back this year in what is a new-look Eagles backline. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been a bit interrupted, so I hadn\u2019t had a great look at it yet, but I feel like with the core we\u2019ve got down there, some senior and experienced players, \u2018Starc\u2019 (Brandon Starcevich) and Tylar Young coming in, they\u2019re both solid defenders,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like that six or seven group down there, I feel like we\u2019re building a good little core backline unit, so that\u2019s something I want to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
On stepping into a greater leadership role, Baker said: \u201cI just want to be myself and be the person that the players voted me in to lead them. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019d just be having a laugh around the club, getting around the boys as much as I can, and train as hard as I can and hopefully come out on gameday and lead in a way that brings people along with me. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to be involved in that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Harley Reid has outlined his development both on and off the field heading into year three, including the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":461208,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[12259,236895,1724,64,63,689,236901,236892,236893,236897,1129,236903,50272,236902,236891,26517,24320,236904,44388,236890,18008,39189,3258,236900,236899,10124,2105,236898,236896,39200,1147,1209,12417,3231,33693,9017,111715,233584,218846,236894,236905,124500,68985,677,231414,222600,3473,46,60466,235085,51240,12540,85,25851,7067,3439,126250,176217,95039],"class_list":["post-461207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-andrew-dillon","tag-andrew-mcquater","tag-asia","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-bleak-one-win-campaign","tag-breakout-candidate","tag-centre-forward-role","tag-centre-square-impact","tag-charlie-curnow","tag-co-captaincy-reins","tag-coast-eagles","tag-consistent-explosive-force","tag-core-backline-unit","tag-daniel-carson","tag-debut-season","tag-depth-additions","tag-deven-robertson","tag-dual-premiership-star","tag-elliot-yeo","tag-engine-room","tag-exclusive-interview","tag-expanded-role","tag-field-heading","tag-fremantle-dockers","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-half-back-flanker","tag-half-forward-mid-role","tag-hamish-davis","tag-harley-reid","tag-india","tag-jack-graham","tag-jack-jovanovski","tag-james-wiltshire","tag-janelle-st-pierre","tag-leadership-role","tag-liam-baker","tag-match-simulation","tag-mid-forward-force","tag-mid-forward-role","tag-midseason-draft","tag-natural-progression","tag-oceania","tag-on-ball-rotation","tag-origin-match","tag-paul-kane","tag-perth","tag-practice-matches","tag-role-shift","tag-senior-games","tag-southern-asia","tag-sports","tag-tom-mccarthy","tag-west-coast-eagles","tag-western-australia","tag-wing-role","tag-young-fella","tag-young-group"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=461207"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/461207\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/461208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=461207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=461207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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