Former Top Draft Pick Hits Back at Integrity Criticism Aimed at Harley Reid

Tom Boyd, a premiership player with the Western Bulldogs, has urged fans and media outlets to ease up on Harley Reid.

The West Coast midfielder has found himself under the microscope recently, primarily due to his failure to secure a long-term commitment to the club.

During the weekend’s match, Reid responded to heckling from Brisbane fans by gesturing with his middle finger, prompting the AFL to request an explanation.

Fortunately, he was not fined for the incident; however, he did change his Instagram profile photo to one featuring Eagles legend Ben Cousins making a similar gesture towards a camera.

Boyd can relate to the intense scrutiny, having experienced it himself as the number one draft pick for GWS in 2013. He later transferred to the Western Bulldogs at the end of the 2014 season in one of the most significant trades in AFL history.

He believes the media should take a step back and allow both Reid and the Eagles adequate time to navigate their situation.

“There’s a pattern that emerges with number one draft picks, and this often extends to father-son selections, where the scrutiny turns sinister, questioning the integrity of the player and those around them,” Boyd told 3AW’s Wide World of Sports.

“I experienced a similar situation; during my rookie season, there were articles speculating that I was too heavy to be effective, alongside claims that my father was meddling in my career despite being 900km away and having no input.”

“It’s undoubtedly a challenging position for Reid, but considering we’re only two rounds into the season and he’s playing for a team that has faced difficulties for some time now, there’s still plenty of room for growth, and he clearly has the talent to excel at the elite level.”

While Boyd acknowledges that Reid is not exempt from criticism regarding his behaviour, he insists that the media should recognise where the boundaries lie.

“I’m not saying that AFL players shouldn’t be held accountable for their performances; however, the line is often crossed when we start to deliberately attack the integrity of players based on little more than the observable frustration of a player struggling to meet expectations,” Boyd expressed.

Reid was recently awarded the 2024 Best First-Year Player by the AFLPA and also clinched the Goal of the Year honour.