AFL fans blast 'pathetic' scenes around Harley Reid after spiteful clash with Fremantle Dockers

Like the classic AFL derbies of old, Fremantle's 35-point win over West Coast on Saturday night was incredibly willing. And it was the Eagles prized number one draft pick, Harley Reid, who found himself in the thick of things from the opening bounce, targeted heavily by both Fremantle players and supporters every time he touched the ball.

Reid, just like in West Coast's shock 37-point win against Fremantle earlier this year, was the spark for the Eagles as last year's wooden spooners threatened another derby boilover. Fremantle trailed a Reid-inspired West Coast by 19 points late in the second term before kicking eight consecutive goals to set up the 17.8 (110) to 11.9 (75) win.

But the major talking point out of the match was the treatment of Reid as the star midfielder was relentlessly booed by rival fans, much to the dismay of the majority of the AFL world. The 19-year-old tallied a career-high 29 disposals and 10 clearances for the match, but it was his running battles with Fremantle's biggest stars that proved to be the most memorable part of a spiteful derby.

Reid and Fremantle's star-studded midfield came to blows on multiple occasions, with Andrew Brayshaw particularly frustrated by Reid's physicality, as the Dockers vice-captain at one point bowled the Eagle over with a brutal hit from behind.

On the rare occasions when Fremantle players were able to get Reid to ground, they also made sure to dish out extra verbal barbs and physical punishment. But despite this Reid didn't take a backward step, unmoved by being mocked and booed by the pro-Dockers crowd.

And with Andrew Gaff's AFL career almost over, the most hated Eagle among Fremantle fans has now officially been passed onto Reid at little fault of his own. The young Eagle was dogged in his approach to the contest despite being manhandled and jeered at throughout the entire contest. And the AFL world took exception to the hate directed at the young Eagle, many taking to social media to call out the unacceptable boos and verbal tirades launched from the purple in the crowd.

Jarrad Schofield commends mature Harley Reid performance

Interim Eagles coach Jarrad Schofield "loved" what he saw from his teen star and thought Reid handled the extra attention extremely well. "I loved it," Schofield said of Reid's game. "For a 19-year-old to be getting booed, to be getting flexed and manhandled by a strong side - they're concerned about him." But

"I asked the players to play on the edge, and he was right on it," Schofield said. "He's pretty strong for a 19-year-old. It takes two or three of them (to take him down). Good on them for coming at him, because he's not taking a backward step, and we don't want him to take a backward step.

"I was really proud of him tonight. He didn't get caught up in all the external noise and what was going on in the game. He just kept playing hard football."

Reid did give away an unnecessary free kick which led to the goal in the third term when he took down Sam Switkowski in an off-the-ball incident. A wild melee erupted after Switkowski kicked the goal, but Eagles veteran Elliot Yeo quickly escorted Reid to the middle of the ground to ensure the young star didn't get into any more trouble.

"When he (Yeo) put his arm around Harley, it's like big brother looking after little brother," Schofield said. "I thought Harley played the game the right way, played tough, didn't get distracted, played on the edge, and he had his big brother looking after him."

RELATED:

• Essendon legend James Hird on cusp of AFL coaching return

• Nick Daicos' post-match act with Hawthorn rival comes to light

• Jeremy Finlayson's wife Kellie goes public with sad development

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said he thought Reid's battle with the Dockers' midfield was a "good mutual tussle all round". "I think Harley gives as good as he gets," Longmuir said.

with AAP