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“Leave the kid alone”: West Coast coach Adam Simpson urges “unfair” critics to back off draft star

Simpson’s words come in the wake of reports suggesting the teenager isn’t keen on departing his home state.

Published by
Annie Ireland

West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson believes recent stories surrounding top AFL draft prospect Harley Reid and his preferred club are "unfair" at this stage of the year.

18-year-old Reid is the likely No.1 pick at this stage for the 2023 AFL Draft, with reports suggesting that the Bendigo Pioneers product is keen to stay in Victoria.

With West Coast the likely suitors for the number one selection at this point in time, it poses an interesting challenge for the Perth-based club.

Yet Simpson believes it is too early to be speculating on these reports, which have not been confirmed by Reid or his management.

"Leave the kid alone, what is he 17? It's a little bit unfair to be putting this much pressure on someone so young and albeit he is a very talented player," Simpson told reporters on Thursday.

"When you're up the top end of the draft you're going to go to someone who's at the bottom end of the ladder.

"One thing I do know about West Coast is their finals percentage is probably top three or four over the last 30 years with four premierships, the most financially stable club in the country and we just ticked over 100,000 members. So, it's not the worst club to go to and we don't lose too many players once we get them."

Vic Country draft talent Harley Reid (Image via Graham Denholm/AFL Photos)

However, Simpson believes that those in the draft have to be willing to go anywhere for a shot at playing AFL.

"I think anyone who's in the draft has got to be willing to go anywhere in the country, that's the way the draft works," Simpson said.

"Of course you've got preference to stay home, I didn't want to get drafted to Brisbane in 1993 but I would've gone. It's not a big issue."

West Coast currently sit 18th on the ladder, with a tough journey to face a red-hot Carlton side at Marvel Stadium on Saturday at 2:10pm.

Published by
Annie Ireland