Luke Shuey's high praise for Harley Reid despite controversial start to AFL career

Joel Selwood. Trent Cotchin. Luke Hodge.

That's the level West Coast assistant Luke Shuey believes Harley Reid will reach in the coming years, as the midfielder grapples with scrutiny over how he approaches the game.

Reid has been cited 13 times by the Match Review Officer, in just 37 career matches, and has been suspended for two games.

Harley Reid tussles with Ryan Angwin of the Giants tussle during round 17. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

He's also been fined more than $26,000 in his less than two seasons in the AFL, after West Coast snagged him with the number one pick in the draft.

It marks a rocky start to his career after West Coast used the first selection in the national draft to pick

'He'll learn where the line is'

Shuey offered a staunch defence of Reid's approach.

"He's just so passionate and he's really old-school in the sense that he just loves playing with his mates and he loves winning," Shuey told ABC Radio Perth's Sports Talk program.

"I don't think there's any easy fix right now. I think his footy IQ is through the roof.

"He's one of the smartest kids I've seen walk through the door."

Reid has been fined $26,000 and cited 13 times by the Match Review Officer. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

Despite glimpses of brilliance in his short career, much of the focus on Reid has been his ill-discipline on the field while he's also been criticised for not being fit enough for AFL football.

But Shuey said that the 20-year old would mature.

"He'll learn where the line is, where he can push it so far to get away with things, and things that you can't do," he said.

"At the moment, everyone is talking about how much it's costing our team every now and then, but I think it's going to be his greatest strength."

Harley Reid of the Eagles is tackled by Scott Pendlebury and Nick Daicos of the Magpies. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)

Leadership qualities

The former Eagles captain and Norm Smith Medallist likened Reid's approach to the game to that of Selwood, Cotchin and Hodge — three players considered among the modern greats.

Luke Shuey says Harley Reid will be a great leader when he matures. (Getty Images: Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

"In three or four years his leadership is going to be that of Joel Selwood and Trent Cotchin and Luke Hodge.

"You play against those blokes on the field, and not a lot of people know this because they knew how to get away with it, but they had an edge to them.

"You turn your back on them at the wrong time and they would find a way to get you, and get away with it.

"It was because they were so keen on winning, and Harley's the same as that.

"He's going to be a great leader for us over a long period of time."

Reid is contracted to West Coast for next year, and is expected to entertain big offers from interstate sides at the end of next season.

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