Harley Reid in major AFL contract update amid speculation over West Coast Eagles future

Eagles CEO Don Pyke has revealed the club has opened talks with boom youngster Harley Reid about extending his stay at West Coast. The rookie Eagles sensation has lit up the AFL with some scintillating displays in 2024 and has become arguably the hottest prospect in the AFL.

He is currently serving a two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle and will miss this weekend’s clash against Essendon. But the 19-year-old has shown why he was taken with pick No.1 in last year's draft transforming the Eagles' side.

After years of battling to avoid finishing last, the Eagles have shown signs of serious improvement in 2024, with Reid seen as an integral part of the club's future. Despite being contracted until the end of 2026, there is already plenty of conjecture about his future. And West Coast fans fear he could up and leave at the end of his rookie contract.

But Pyke has moved to ease fans' fears, saying the club are already in talks with their young star over a new deal, however, said they aren't in a rush to get it over the line. Under new AFL rules, top-20 draft picks are given a mandatory three-year contract and are officially allowed to begin negotiations on a new deal after Round 6.

With that timeframe passed, the Eagles can look to lock Reid down on a longer deal. But they also know they have the star for at least the next two and a half years.

“These conversations are happening... We’re also dealing with a 19-year-old young man who is in his first year of footy … there’s not a massive rush to tie him down and get him to sign," Pyke told 7News. “It’s more like ‘what do we want to do and what looks right for you and how does it look right for you and your family?’.

“There’s a human involved here and there’s a family as well and we’re sort of talking to him. He’s comfortable, he’s enjoying it. He’s frustrated he’s not playing at the moment, but he’ll be back in a couple of weeks. The reality is he’s got three years. We could possibly extend him for a fourth and we’ll have a conversation about what that looks like beyond that as well.”

Harley Reid deal could be richest in the AFL

Reid's next deal is expected to see him join the million-dollar club and he reportedly could earn up to $2million a season. In May, 7News Perth's Ryan Daniels revealed that the club expect him to stay long-term and they are looking at extending his contract for at least another two years on a deal worth well north of $1million a season.

“Semi-informed gut feel would be a couple of years extension, maybe go to five years (total). Free agency would obviously come at the eight-year mark, he’s not going to go beyond that, that’s pretty clear,” Daniels said on Triple M. “I would think a couple of years and the money is going to be significant, it’s going to be more than a million dollars a year. That’s just the market-dictated value and then also the salary cap is going to increase, the new CBA.

“I would say you’re looking at $1.3-$1.5m a year. I know some people are saying $2m a year, I don’t think it will quite get to that in the early stages, but at some point in his career, I think Harley Reid will be earning $2m a year.”

Dustin Martin is currently the highest-paid player, on a deal worth $1.35 million a season. However, with that deal ending at the end of 2024 and the next highest-paid player being Nat Fyfe who is on $1.15 million a season, in reality, Reid's next deal could see him pen the most lucrative deal in the entire league.

Harley Reid to decide whether to stay in Perth or move back to Melbourne

Prior to being selected by the Eagles, there was speculation Reid wouldn't be happy about moving to Perth and leaving his friends and family behind in Victoria. Reid, who hails from Tongala in the Goulburn Valley region, said after being drafted: "It was pretty annoying at times when they say it and they really haven't even met you. It (the Eagles jumper) is on me now, so hopefully that puts a bit of word out there that I'm keen to go over there and get stuck into it."

And earlier this season Reid sent shivers down Eagles fans' spines after he told ABC radio about how unhappy he was that he had to spend his recent 19th birthday away from his family. “In April there are three of our birthdays," he said in May. "I missed my sister’s, and mine too - I got to spend that on my own. It was probably the worst birthday.”

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But following those remarks Reid moved to clarify that he's happy living in Perth. “I don’t really feel that I’ve been homesick at all,” he said on 'Talking Footy'. “You’re so busy over here and the club’s been huge (in) that regard. I think for me it’s been good to get away - you get into a new home, you learn new things. I haven’t done life without my family, so it’s good for a change.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve felt homesick at all, I just felt like it was a great time of year to get back and see my family and friends. I don’t really know Perth at all so I don’t really know where to go, but the club’s been huge, (coach Adam Simpson has) given me little outlets to go and I try get away when I can, but you get pretty busy at times and you don’t really know what to do with yourself.”

Whether he will look to extend his deal to stay at West Coast or look for a move closer to his family is unknown. But what is for sure is his next deal is sure to be a lucrative one.