Gippsland key forward Archer Reid is one of the leading players for his position in 2023 after entering the year as a potential top 10 prospect.
Reid would enjoy a strong middle-third of the Talent League season for the Power, where he'd boot 11 goals over a three-game run that would, unfortunately, fall between early and late dry spells.
The Inverloch-Kongwak local would be able to show his versatility as a forward-ruck hybrid player however, ending his year with an average of 13.1 hitouts to go with his 13.5 disposal-per-game - adding a string to his bow.
Reid, the younger brother of Essendon backman Zach, was also able to offer some pressure on the defensive end with 2.5 tackles each game from his 11 outings while sharing a forward line with potential top five selection Zane Duursma and 2023 Mid-Season Draft No.1 pick Ryan Maric.
He would again be tasked with competing in an attacking formation with Duursma and Geelong Falcons forward Michael Rudd for Vic Country, with Reid booting goals against the Allies, Western Australia and Vic Metro during his National Championships carnival, managing multiple majors in Country's final game of the campaign against the latter.
Reid is an agile threat in the air and can follow up his work at ground level, which will have AFL scouts interested given his 203cm frame. The athletic key forward can push up the ground and have an impact on the transition, offering similarities to Brisbane ace Eric Hipwood.
A member of the AFL Academy squad, Reid is likely to fall toward the back end of the first round or early into the following round for this year's draft but could rise up the order given the lack of key forward talent on offer for clubs early into the count.
Allies gun Jed Walter and Calder Cannons tall Jordan Croft are tied to the Suns and Dogs respectively, leaving Northern Knights spearhead Nate Caddy as arguably the only key forward ahead of Reid in this year's class.
Position: Key Forward
Height: 203cm
Weight: 94kg
State: Victoria
Club: Inverloch-Kongwak
Strengths
Athleticism
Aerial Threat
Second Efforts
Kicking
Draft Range
Pick 20-30
Potential Landing Spots
North Melbourne (Picks 17+18)
Collingwood (Pick 19)
St Kilda (Pick 21)
Geelong (Pick 25)
AFL Comparison
Eric Hipwood
Callum Coleman-Jones
Expert comments
"Reid is a tall key forward with very good kicking skills for a player his size. He showed some of his best form of the season to recruiters in a patch at the end of Vic Country's under-18 carnival and then with Gippsland Power." - Callum Twomey
