Harley Reid Biography

The Harley Reid fend-off is already building a cult following with West Coast defender and teammate Jayden Hunt believing the 18-year-old is "almost untackleable".

"One thing I noticed straight away with Harley was he was almost untackleable in the pre-season," Hunt told reporters.

"I got a few lumps in my chest from him in pre-season. For such a young kid, he's super strong and takes the game on. We definitely want him to keep doing that."

Harley Reid makes his AFL debut for West Coast at Adelaide Oval with 16 disposals (6 kicks and 10 handballs), 2 marks and 2 tackles in a 50-point loss to Port Adelaide.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has moved to manage expectations on prized No.1 draft pick Harley Reid.

"To think that an 18-year-old kid could come in and play as an inside mid, I think we've got to be careful with that," Simpson said.

"We want to give him a good look at down back, a good look at onball, and down the track a look forward. He won't be playing every game I wouldn't have thought. We need to look after him to a certain degree."

West Coast select Harley Reid with pick No.1 in the 2023 National Draft.

Melbourne remains hopeful it can pull off a trade with West Coast for the No.1 pick, likely to be used on Harley Reid.

"If you look over the journey, players like Harley Reid are game changers," Melbourne recruiting manager Jason Taylor told AFL.com.au's Gettable Draft Countdown show.

Meanwhile, North Melbourne has given up on coming to a deal for the coveted pick.

"I think that horse has bolted. I think (West Coast) are pretty set on Harley and for good reason," North recruiting manager Will Thursfield said.

Harley Reid insists he is prepared to go anywhere to start his career, including interstate to West Coast, who have the No.1 pick in the 2023 national draft.

"Obviously, wherever I go, wherever it is, like even Melbourne's gonna be a challenge for me to move," Reid said.

"For 18 years I've been in a small country town and haven't left my family so it'll obviously be challenging even if I move to Melbourne."

Harley Reid of the Bendigo Pioneers, one of the early favourites for the No.1 draft pick in 2023, is awarded the Jack Collins-Alan Schwab AFL Life Members scholarship.

"I'm really grateful for the award. I was told about a month ago that I'd get the award. I saw the past and present players who had won the scholarship and the opportunity to have my name up alongside those guys was pretty sick, I'll cherish it," Reid said.