West Coast Defender Calls for More Support for Harley Reid Against Taggers
West Coast Eagles defender Brandon Starcevich has emphasized the urgent need for the team to provide better support for rising star Harley Reid when he is targeted by opposition taggers. This call comes in the wake of the Eagles' significant 128-point defeat to the Sydney Swans on Saturday night, where Reid's performance was notably stifled.
Reid's Struggles in Sydney Loss Highlight Team Shortcomings
During the match, Sydney stopper James Jordon effectively neutralized the 20-year-old Reid, limiting him to just 17 disposals, which included only two score involvements and one disposal. As the game progressed, Reid's frustration became evident, leading to two costly free kicks that directly resulted in goals for the Swans. One was for failing to return the ball to ruckman Brodie Grundy after a free kick, and the other for remonstrating with Sydney players following an incident involving Angus Sheldrick and Reuben Ginbey.
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter later clarified on Monday that the AFL had informed the club the second free kick was incorrectly awarded. However, Starcevich pointed out that the absence of key midfielders Elliot Yeo and Deven Robertson was keenly felt, particularly in their inability to assist Reid in handling the extra defensive pressure.
Starcevich Stresses Collective Responsibility in Supporting Reid
In an interview with 6PR, Starcevich elaborated on the challenges Reid faced. "It was pretty tough for Harley on Saturday. He probably didn't get a whole lot of help, which is something that, as a team, we need to focus on when Harley's got a bit of attention," he stated. "If anyone's got a tag or someone going with them, it's important to try and help them out a bit. Harley's still learning how to deal with that as well, so there's plenty for him to learn, but plenty for us to learn as a group as to how we can support him through it."
Reflecting on the broader team performance, Starcevich acknowledged the disappointment after recent momentum. "Coming off the last few weeks, I thought we'd built a bit of momentum, but it was a disappointing performance," he said. "The last couple of weeks, we have given teams a start and been able to reel them back in, but you do that too often and good sides will put the hammer down and make sure you don't get another sniff. Credit to the Swans, they were awesome early and that set the game up for them."
Looking Ahead: Review and Recovery
Starcevich mentioned that he is uncertain about the specific approach coach Andrew McQualter will take in reviewing the game, but he emphasized there is "a lot to learn" from the experience. On a personal note, Starcevich is cautiously progressing from a calf injury and hopes to return to play around the mid-season mark, adding to the team's ongoing challenges as they seek to improve their support structures for key players like Reid.
