Harley Reid’s 2023 draft stocks received yet another boost when he was named the winner of the Jack Collins-Alan Schwab AFL Life Members Scholarship.
The Tongala 17-year-old, who is considered likely to be among the top few selections in next year’s national draft, has had an extraordinary year with Bendigo Pioneers in the NAB League and Victoria Country at the National Under-18 Championships.
He will play in the final round of those championships at Marvel Stadium on Thursday, September 22, when the two unbeaten teams in the competition, Vic Country and Metro, clash.
Due to the scheduling of matches the St Joseph’s College Echuca Year 11 student will miss the grand final day NAB AFL Futures match for the best Under-17 players in the country, which will be played just two days after the final round of the Under-18 titles (on AFL grand final day).
Reid received the scholarship on Wednesday, September 7 at the Marvel Stadium AFL Life Members event, surrounded some of football’s greatest names — including Ron Barassi, Des Tuddenham and David Parkin.
Previous winners of the award include Carlton star Sam Walsh, Fremantle’s Hayden Young, Essendon’s Darcy Parish, Eagle Nic Naitanui and all-time greats Geelong’s Joel Selwood and former Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge.
The scholarship is named in honour of 154-game/385-goal Footscray full forward Collins, who kicked seven goals in the Bulldogs’ 1954 grand final win.
Schwab was considered among the best VFL/AFL administrators, working at club and league level in various roles and as a member of the original commission.
Reid played 12 games with the Pioneers this season, featuring among the best players on nine occasions, and played a match-winning hand in Vic Country’s thrilling first-round win against South Australia at the national championships.
He managed only two games with Tongala in the Murray league due to his Pioneers and Vic Country commitments and was hopeful of being a part of the club’s finals campaign before it was tipped out of the premiership race last weekend.
Reid burst on to the AFL recruiting radar in 2018 when he kicked 130 goals in 21 games for Tongala’s Under-14 team.
After missing the entire 2020 season he played five games with the Pioneers as a 15-year-old, when he also made his senior football debut with Tongala.