Essendon eyes Harley Reid with $2.5 million offer

Speculation is growing around Harley Reid, a prominent player for the West Coast Eagles. It is rumored that the Essendon Bombers are preparing to offer him a lucrative contract worth a significant portion of their $2.5 million salary cap. Although Reid is under contract until the end of 2026, both Essendon and Richmond are interested in making a move for him, thanks to their strong draft positions. Eddie McGuire, a host on Nine’s podcast, mentioned that Essendon is currently the frontrunner in the race for Reid. His co-host, Jimmy Bartel, echoed this sentiment, saying Reid is likely to receive a big offer regardless of whether he stays with the Eagles or not. Some former players, like Will Schofield, suggest that the talk surrounding Reid’s future might just be media speculation. In other news, young GWS Giants defender Leek Aleer may be looking to switch teams. With limited playing opportunities, Aleer is hoping for more game time elsewhere starting in 2026. Analysts believe he might leave the Giants and the Brisbane Lions could be interested in signing him. Meanwhile, Melbourne defender Judd McVee is expected to stay with the Demons but will wait until he recovers from an injury before discussing a new contract. He has become a key player for Melbourne with 48 games under his belt since debuting in 2023. Finally, Carlton midfielder George Hewett is likely to trigger a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2026. Hewett has been a reliable player for Carlton, featuring in 60 out of 73 games since joining in 2021. The club faces several contract decisions this year, as other players, like Tom De Koning, are weighing offers from rival teams.