Harley Reid is expected to claim his first John Worsfold Medal when West Coast’s club champion awards are held at Crown Perth on Friday night, capping a standout third season in the AFL.
The 21-year-old is regarded as the overwhelming favourite after leading the Eagles in disposals, contested possessions, inside 50s, clearances and bounces during a campaign in which he played all 23 matches.
Reid amassed 566 disposals, including 308 contested possessions, while recording 104 inside 50s, 151 clearances and 41 bounces. He improved significantly after an uneven 2025 season and is now poised to collect the first major individual award of what West Coast hopes will be a long list of honours.
The midfielder’s rise has also been recognised by his teammates, with Reid nominated for the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player award alongside Eagles forward Jake Waterman and veteran midfielder Tim Kelly.
West Coast’s official season review noted that Reid finished the campaign averaging a career-best 24.6 disposals and 6.6 clearances a game. He was also the youngest player to record at least 150 clearances and 15 goals in a single home-and-away season.
West Coast Eagles contenders
Reid’s previous best result in the John Worsfold Medal count came last year, when he finished third behind co-captain Liam Baker. Victory on Friday would make him the second-least experienced Eagle to win the award in the club’s AFL era, at 62 matches.
Only Craig Turley had done so sooner, winning the medal after 58 games in 1991. Turley also finished runner-up to Melbourne great Jim Stynes in that year’s Brownlow Medal count.
Key defender Reuben Ginbey was expected to be Reid’s strongest rival after a breakthrough season, but a serious quad injury suffered against Port Adelaide in round 13 ended his campaign and is likely to have cost him a serious chance.
Ginbey, who finished second in last year’s count, could remain among the leading vote-getters for the opening half of the season before sliding down the standings because of his extended absence.
Tim Kelly is expected to feature prominently and could finish inside the top three for the third time in his seven seasons with West Coast. The 32-year-old averaged 24 disposals and five clearances across 21 matches after falling outside the top 10 in last year’s club champion count.
Ruckman Bailey Williams is another contender for a top-five finish. After recovering from a groin injury, he returned in round five and established himself as West Coast’s first-choice ruckman, averaging career highs of 30 hit-outs, five clearances and 13 disposals across 19 games.
Tom McCarthy is also expected to poll well after averaging 23 disposals in 22 appearances, placing him behind only Reid and Kelly among the Eagles.
Waterman will collect the club’s leading goalkicker award for the second time in three seasons after finishing with 49 goals. His tally could have been higher, having also registered 56 behinds, but he remained one of the most consistent performers in a side that won four matches.
Willem Duursma is set to be recognised as West Coast’s Emerging Talent after an impressive first season, in which the top draft pick played 22 games, kicked 14 goals and averaged 17 disposals.
The club has confirmed that Friday’s awards evening at Crown Perth will begin at about 7pm Australian Western Standard Time, with the John Worsfold Medal presentation scheduled for later in the programme.
