West Coast Eagles recruit Liam Baker has defended young star Harley Reid after the 19-year-old faced heavy criticism following the club's damning defeat to Gold Coast on Sunday.
Reid was scrutinised by vocal AFL opinionist Kane Cornes for his "embarrassing" flopping and chirping at the opposition, while former Kangaroo and Fox Footy expert David King questioned if Reid was "keener to fight than he is to play footy".
King stated that Reid seems to be easily distracted by conversations on the field rather than focusing on the play, as Cornes doubled down on his take that an interrupted pre-season would see some second-year blues for the 2023 No. 1 Pick.
Baker staunchly defended Reid's ability to bounce back from his poor performance, stating that Reid has acknowledged that engaging in trash-talking tiffs won't better his game.
The former Tiger also implored critics to realise Reid is still just a teenager adapting to the top flight.
"It's not just him, it's the whole midfield group that got beaten. It was pretty much of all us that were very ordinary, so it's getting back to what we can do to be better," Baker said on Reid's performance.
"That other stuff, that distraction stuff, we know it doesn't really help win games of footy.
"He knows that, someone will have a chat to him about that little stuff, but it's something he's going to have to deal with being the good player that he is. He's copped his whack.
"It's just reviewing it. He realises that it's not naturally going to help his game so he'll figure that out and the right people are talking to him... As a senior player, you just need to get around him, he's copping his whack from the outside (media).
"Remember he's only 19 years of age, so it must be tough for him.
"It is what it is, he'll get on with it and start playing good footy for us."
Baker said the team had "copped our whack" from new coach Andrew McQualter after the club's putrid start to the season, but ensured the performance would be an outlier.
โIt's more of a mindset thing and getting the boys playing a bit better in the midfield, but it's not just them,โ Baker said.
โWe saw today our backs were poor, our forwards were poor, our mids were poor as well.
โWe copped our whack today and we'll get on with it. I don't think that's a reflection on the way we'll go this year."
The Eagles face a tougher challenge in Round 2, travelling to the Gabba to take on reigning premiers Brisbane, who come off a thrilling grand final rematch victory.
