- Harley Reid has been criticised by fans online for his performance vs Gold Coast
- Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has also weighed in on the discussion
Harley Reid has caught the ire of Kane Cornes and multiple footy fans online following his indifferent performance and ‘theatrics’ during his side’s drubbing by the Gold Coast on Sunday.
Andrew McQualter’s reign as the Eagles senior coach got off to a very poor start at the Optus Stadium, with the West Coast suffering an 87-point defeat.
The 19-year-old managed 12 disposals and a goal during the match but struggled to find space and get into top gear during the match.
The No 1 Draft pick took his goal well and could have had another but failed to get his snap on target. He was also involved in a heated war of words with several opposition players, with Oscar Allen having to pull the midfielder away from the spat which flared up in the second-half.
Reid was also criticised online by some fans after he flopped to the ground after being lightly pushed by Gold Coast defender Charlie Ballard.
Fans online hit out at the theatrics from Reid with one writing: ‘Gotta get this out of his game ASAP.’
Harley Reid has been slammed by many social media users and Kane Cornes for his performance during West Coast’s 87-point defeat by Gold Coast
Reid was seen flopping to the ground after he was pushed by Gold Coast defender Charlie Ballard, with some calling his actions ’embarrassing’
Another wrote: ‘This is nonsense from Harley Reid. Should be fined for staging but won’t be. #AFL’
WAFL star Keegan Knott took aim at Reid’s general demeanour throughout the match, noting that Reid had been smiling and laughing after clashing with Gold Coast players, despite his own side suffering a landslide defeat.
‘Legit embarrassing to watch Harley Reid worry about chirping, starting scraps and laughing at half-time when he’s had the four touches,’ Knott wrote. ‘And to think we were comparing him and Nick Daicos?’
Another X user added: ‘Harley Reid that is the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever seen.’
Port Adelaide Great Cornes weighed in on the discussion around Reid’s performance.
‘I’m worried about him,’ Cornes began after Sarah Olle claimed he had been involved in some ‘theatrics’ on the AFL’s show First Up with Kane Cornes.
‘Not worried about him long-term, he’s going to get there. In five-six years’ time, this stuff is going to be out of his game.
‘The sooner it gets out of his game, the better. That’s unacceptable. Like that’s an embarrassing effort for Harley Reid.’
Kane Cornes also criticised Reid for the action, claiming that he needs to ‘stamp that out of his game’
Social media users hit out at Harley Reid after he flopped to the ground during West Coast’s clash vs Gold Coast
Reid booted two goals during the defeat and struggled to get his hands on the ball
Cornes believes the Eagles are suffering from a lack of leadership and noted the absence of veteran midfielder Eliott Yeo, who was ruled out at the beginning of the 2025 season with knee and ankle injuries.
‘The problem now for him [Reid], I’ll speak to the lack of leadership, do you remember last year Elliot Yeo was coming in last year and protecting him in his first year? Elliot Yeo is not there. So teams have a target on Reid’s back.
‘Not only physically, because they know he is susceptible to that, they know he will bite back.
‘They know there’s a risk that he’ll get reported and give away free-kicks. But also they know there’s a target on his back because he’s not fit enough yet and has had an interrupted pre-season.
‘They started on him in stoppage and then they expose him the other way.’
There are plenty of rumours circling around that Reid, who hails from Tongala, could be set to move to back to Victoria to play for a Melbourne-based club.
But Cornes then didn’t hold back on the 19-year-old, claiming he’s not living up to the hype around him.
‘He’s got a lot of work to do. Talk of him being a $2million player and being in the back page of the press, he’s nowhere near that or being the player he needs to be.
‘He had four touches in the first half. Two kicks and it was a really ordinary performance from him.
‘It’s his second season, I get it, it’s harsh criticism. But we expect more from a player who we know is capable of a lot more than that.’
