Hawthorn may be poised to pursue promising No.1 draft pick Harley Reid following a viral photo of him with Hawks coach Sam Mitchell at Tom Barrass’ recent wedding. The 19-year-old West Coast Eagles player has shown exceptional talent, drawing favourable comparisons to Dustin Martin in his debut season. Speculation has escalated, especially given that Reid, a Victorian, expressed feelings of isolation celebrating his birthday away from home last year.
While Mitchell acknowledged the photo stirred discussions, he clarified that their interaction was informal, revolving around his own experiences at the Eagles, and insisted he was not attempting to recruit Reid. The intense scrutiny around Reid in Perth has made it challenging for him, and he maintained his focus on his current club.
Hawthorn’s interests are bolstered by comments from club legend Luke Hodge, who believes any Victorian club ignoring Reid would be foolish, given his potential as a future dominant player. Hodge completed by noting that if Hawthorn does not move for Reid in the next year, other clubs likely will. Reid is set to remain at West Coast until the end of 2026, making any potential shift a significant decision for both him and the club.