[ad_1]
West coast major leaguer Will Schofield called out criticism for the “borderline insanity” of the emerging AFL superstar harley reid.
The No. 1 draft pick has made an impressive start to this career with a string of eye-catching performances in his seven games.
He helped lift last year’s Wooden Spooners to two wins, including a stunning three-goal performance against city rivals Fremantle in Round 7.
Stream analysis, local games and highlights for free 7 plus 
The 19-year-old was rested after the game against the Dockers but returned for Saturday night’s clash with Essendon, which the Eagles lost by six points.
Reid pulled off a stunning double bounce to delight the fansbut was forced to retire late in the race with cramp.
Port Adelaide big Kane Corns questioned Reid’s training standards compared to fellow young gun Nick Dykos.
“I understand there’s a few years difference (between them), but Daicos has been doing this since day one. The hype and all that is real, if he wants to be Jordan De Gowey, that’s fine, then he’ll get there,” Corns said on Channel 9.
“(But) if he wants to be the best, if he wants to be Nick Dykos, he has to have his training standards at the level that he is (like Dykos).
“I’ve seen it (cramp) in the last five minutes of a game. I don’t know what his training standards are.”
When asked if he was saying Reid wasn’t fit enough, Corns said: “I’m saying it was a concern for me to see how fit he was late in a game that was nowhere near as high-pressure as Collingwood.”
“After a week off with five minutes to go when he had to get off the ground… He’s not injured, he’s cramping. Cramps are a sign of conditioning after a week off.
“If you want to be as good as Nick and that’s the comparison and rightly so… and I’ve praised Harley Reid, I think he’s been massive for West Coast and made them relevant again, I love the fact how competitive he is and how he is the winner.
“But that doesn’t mean you get away with poor effort and poor teaching standards. He has to make sure they are tall.
Former Eagle Scofield, who retired after the 2020 season, criticized Corns’ position.
“It’s really hard to highlight that kind of coverage without drawing extra attention, but to isolate a guy in his 7th game is borderline crazy. I understand everyone wants to talk about Harley and so do I, but this is absolutely unjustified,” he tweeted.
Essendon legend and Channel 7 commentator Tim Watson and Melbourne great Gary Lyon described Corns’ comments as “ridiculous”.
“Is it in any way legitimate to question someone after seven games who has had an interrupted pre-season and is called up to play in the midfield as a first-year player?” Watson asked.
“Is that a valid criticism?”
Lyon replied: “He thinks it would, but it’s just ridiculous. I’m sorry.
“I think Kane has spoken in the past about the incredible pressure the West Australian media is putting on this kid.
“This is a kid who is still trying to work out the learning standards. Do you expect him to know after seven games where he needs to be as an AFL halfback?’
Watson agreed, saying Corns missed the mark with the comments.
“It’s ridiculous to focus on him,” he said.
“It might not have the engine yet. He may not physically have that.
“Our explosive friend from the west, Harley Reid, may have great abilities, but he doesn’t necessarily have the endurance abilities yet. This will build over a period of time.
“I just think it’s a ridiculous thing to say so early in someone’s career.
“He (Korns) had a pass last night.”
Reid and the Daicos will go head-to-head this weekend when the Eagles take on Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.
[ad_2]
