The draft prospect that “five or six clubs” would take ahead of Reid at pick one
“The gap between one and two has closed.”
Draft expert Cal Twomey believes the gap between likely pick-one Harley Reid and other hot prospects is closing.
While Reid seems locked in to go pick one, Twomey believes that Gold Coast Academy forward Jed Walter is right there alongside him.
Although the Suns will get first dibs on the key forward, Twomey thinks that if he were in an open draft pool, several clubs would choose him over Reid.
He discussed the young gun with player agent and former Essendon great Scott Lucas on SEN Crunch Time.
Lucas: “Do you think, in the rankings in the last two weeks, that the gap between one and two has closed?”
Twomey: “Yes, I do, and I think if it was an open pool and Jed Walter was available to all clubs, then the race (for pick one) would be on.
“He’s a 196-centimetre key forward who can physically impose himself on games.
“He’s dominated for the Allies in the early part of the championships, which is on at the moment. We’re halfway through the under-18 championships.
“He’s a player from Gold Coast’s Academy, so they’ll get first dibs on him at the end of the season, and he’s so exciting.
“He was an All-Australian last year as well as a bottom-ager.
“So he’s got some runs on the board, and if it was an open pool, let’s say you just forget about the fact that he’s tied to anyone, there’s every chance clubs would be taking the key forward.”
Lucas: “I reckon five or six clubs would for purely need, which is not a reflection on Harley, is it?
“It’s more of a reflection of how Jed Walter has continued to build and the way that he’s gone about it.
“I don’t think I’ve seen as physical a key forward come through (the draft).”
Twomey: “I haven’t seen a key forward who likes to chase and tackle as much as him.”
Lucas: “Also hit and jump and hit bodies like him.”
Twomey says the gap has closed in the last month as Reid has been out injured but still compared the Bendigo Pioneers gun to two dynamic AFL stars.
“The other part of this as well is that Harley hasn’t played for about six weeks,” Twomey said.
“So last week was his first game back after about six weeks out with a concussion, which he suffered in the AFL Academy game in early May.
“He played last week for Vic Country about this time down at Icon Park on Sunday and had three goals in the opening 10 minutes and was abuzz.
“I think he sort of ran out a little bit of puff, as did Vic Country after that in his first game back.
“He’ll play today for the Bendigo Pioneers, he’ll be playing through the midfield.
“The type of player I see him as – I know it’s easy to throw around the Dustin Martin (comparison), but there’s a little bit of Dustin in the way he plays and a little bit of Jordan De Grey (in his style).”
Both Reid and Walter are impressing in the Under 18 National Championships which are ongoing for Vic Country and The Allies, respectively.