Rory Sloane’s Frustration: The Impact of Harley Reid’s Contract with West Coast

Adelaide Crows legend Rory Sloane has expressed his frustration over the possibility of former No.1 AFL draft selection Harley Reid leaving West Coast after just three years, suggesting that changes to draft regulations made two years ago have not done enough to curb this trend.

The 2023 draft was significant as it marked the first time that the top-20 picks were required to sign three-year contracts, rather than the traditional two-year agreements.

Even before Reid touched down to start his journey with the Eagles, speculation swirled regarding whether the talented midfielder would pursue a trade back to his home state of Victoria as soon as he had the opportunity.

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The “go-home factor” continues to be a persistent issue for clubs outside Victoria.

According to Nine’s Tom Morris on Footy Classified, there is a belief among Victorian clubs that Reid could potentially make a return home at the end of 2026, when his contract with West Coast concludes.

This possibility elicited a passionate response from Sloane.

“It frustrates me that there’s even a chance for such a high draft pick to leave so early in their career,” Sloane stated.

“I believe there should be a minimum commitment of four to five years where a player must dedicate themselves to the club. They need to step out of their comfort zone and fully engage with that environment.”

Sloane made the move from Victoria to Adelaide when the Crows selected him with pick 44 in the 2008 draft.

For many years, Victorian clubs hoped to lure the talented midfielder back home, but he ultimately established himself as a one-club player, amassing 255 games and captaining the team, either as a co-captain or sole captain, for four years.

Sloane gave West Coast “one piece of advice” in their quest to keep Reid beyond 2026.

“If West Coast genuinely want him to stay, I would recommend they have his family and friends visit Perth regularly, just as I did,” Sloane suggested.

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“My mates and family would come over, and they’d say, ‘Gee, Tex [Taylor Walker] is a great bloke, gee, Bernie [Vince] is a fantastic bloke, and so is VB [Nathan van Berlo].’ They’d be asking, ‘When can we next visit? How can we get more involved with the club? When will we see you again, Sloaney?’

“What I believe Harley Reid is currently facing is the questions, ‘When are you coming home? When can we catch up?'”

Reid and his West Coast teammates are set to kick off their premiership season against the Gold Coast Suns in Perth this Sunday.