Harley Reid reveals sad news about his family life as he stamps himself as the AFL’s newest superstar

Human highlight reel Harley Reid has revealed why he had to return home to see his family in rural Victoria after making a sensational start to his AFL career.

Reid, last year’s No.1 draft pick, has taken to senior footy like a duck to water, well and truly announcing himself as a special player for West Coast.

His performances have sparked the Perth club into life after the team had previously failed to win consecutive games since rounds 18 and 19 in 2021, and many are tipping Reid as an outside chance for the Brownlow Medal already.

However, rather than travel with his teammates to the Gold Coast in round seven, Reid was given time off to travel home to Tongala in northern Victoria instead.

His time away was questioned by a number of pundits and fans, including ex-Swans star Paul Roos, who thought the break was ridiculous.

The 19-year-old has now revealed the sad reason why he needed the trip.

‘In April there’s three of our (family) birthdays. I missed my sister’s and mine too, I got to spend that on my own. It was probably the worst birthday,’ Reid told the ABC.

‘It was good to get back and I felt like I needed to see the family … it was good to connect back there with them.

‘Sometimes on your day off you’d love to drive around and see your family but obviously you can’t, so it was good to get a weekend home and see the family.

‘I’m 19, I’ve never moved out of home, so I don’t know any different without my parents around and my family.’

Reid sent social media into meltdown yet again on Sunday with a series of mesmerising highlights in West Coast’s shock 16.9 (105) to 10.10 (70) win over Melbourne.

The No.1 draft pick produced a goal-of-the-year contender when he burned off Christian Petracca at a centre clearance and took three bounces before kicking truly from 45 metres out.

Reid sent the crowd wild again in the third quarter when he produced a double fend-off – using his left hand to get rid of Clayton Oliver before utilising his right to tame Petracca.

The Rising Star favourite produced another show-stopping moment later in the term when he bumped off his opponent and gathered the bouncing ball with one hand before sprinting forward to kick his second goal.

Lachie Neale has joined the Harley Reid fan club, with the dual Brownlow medallist in awe of the teen sensation’s highlights reel and envious of his physical attributes.

‘He’s a pretty special talent. I love that kid,’ former Fremantle Docker Neale told reporters on Monday when quizzed about the Eagles’ new hero.

‘It’s good to watch some of the stuff he did last night.

‘Some of his highlights already through (nine) games are unbelievable.’

A Brownlow Medal winner in 2020 and 2023, Neale has made his name as an accumulator and damaging ball-user.

But the 255-game champion sees qualities in Reid he could only wish for.

‘I wouldn’t mind having his power and physicality. Those traits would be nice,’ Neale said.

‘It’s pretty special watching a young player like him go about it. He’s going to be a superstar for a very long time.’