Harley Reid to argue rough conduct case at AFL tribunal

West Coast’s young star Harley Reid will fight the grading of his rough conduct charge at the AFL Tribunal in a bid to have his two-match suspension halved.

Reid faces the first ban of his fledgling career after being cited for slinging St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson to the ground during the Eagles’ 14-point loss at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

The force and slinging nature of the tackle resulted in the back of Wilson’s head hitting the turf, but he was cleared of concussion and returned to the field.

The league’s match review officer graded the incident as careless contact, high impact and high contact.

“West Coast will challenge that the level of impact should be downgraded to medium, rather than high, which would result in a one-match suspension,” the club said in a statement on Monday.

The Western Bulldogs also announced they will challenge the one-match ban handed to Rhylee West for rough conduct against Magpies veteran Jeremy Howe.

If Reid fails to halve his two-match ban, he will end up spending almost the entirety of June without playing.

After taking on North Melbourne at home this Saturday, West Coast have a bye and then a June 23 away match against Essendon.

A two-match ban for Reid would rule him out until the June 30 home clash with Hawthorn.

Given West Coast are only fighting to reduce the ban rather than overturn it, Reid is now ineligible to win the Rising Star award in which he was the raging hot favourite.

Western Bulldogs tall Sam Darcy was the second favourite but is now also out of the running, having accepted a two-match suspension for rough conduct on Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard.

The shock turn of events has thrown the award wide open, with North Melbourne’s George Wardlaw now the slight favourite ahead of the likes of Kangaroos midfielder Colby McKercher, St Kilda forward Wilson, emerging Cats star Oliver Dempsey and Melbourne’s Caleb Windsor.

Reid has dazzled in his debut season, with the No.1 draft pick averaging 17.8 disposals and 4.9 clearances per game, to go with eight goals.

His spectacular fend-offs have already lit up social media, along with his high-flying marks.

Such was Reid’s influence in the first half against the Saints on Saturday, St Kilda coach Ross Lyon sent tagger Marcus Windhager to the star midfielder after the long break.

Reid was restricted to just three possessions in the second half and also gave away four free kicks as he struggled under the extra attention.

West Coast veteran Andrew Gaff, who himself was a first-year revelation back in 2011, has been amazed by what Reid has produced in his debut season.

“It just feels normal now,” Gaff said of Reid’s on-field heroics.

“He does that stuff all the time, it’s incredible.

“He got a tag in the second half - you know you’re going all right when that’s happening in your first year.”