West Coast Eagles No. 1 picks Harley Reid and Williem Duursma can drive the next golden era, says Chad Wingard

West Coast’s two No.1 draft picks, Harley Reid and Willem Duursma, can drive the club’s next golden era and form a Ben Cousins and Chris Judd-like partnership. That is, according to two-time All-Australian and Channel Seven commentator Chad Wingard, who believes given time the Victorian pair could be spoken about in the same air as the Brownlow medallists. “Everyone is excited to see Will Duursma and Harley Reid go at it,” the former Port Adelaide and Hawthorn forward told The West Australian. “The thing we love about both of those players is they are physical specimens, they are tall, versatile. “The ceiling is so high for both of them. You think about the best duos West Coast has ever had in Cousins, Judd, even (Daniel) Kerr. It is pretty exciting when you have two superstars around the same age. “Once they build that list - and we have seen how quickly teams can turn that around – but once you have that cornerstone of these star players to build around, the sky is the limit for West Coast. “But they need some more time and talent, so they can just grow together as a whole list.” Reid and Duursma have ties that precede their Eagles union. Duursma’s sister, AFLW player Yasmin, and Reid were once a high-profile couple before going their separate ways. Reid, 20 and 187cm, has played 39 games across his first two seasons after being secured by the Eagles with the first selection in the 2023 national draft. Duursma, 18, and 191cm, was taken at pick one last year. Wingard said Reid had “some time to adjust to the system now”. “Someone who has the pressure of being the No. 1 draft pick and playing for a team that has been struggling and looking for answers,” Wingard said. “He’s doing his best. Obviously, I love the way that he goes about. He got a bit of swagger. He’s got so much confidence that I feel like with his ability and his work ethic … we just have to give him time. “He’s got so much potential. He’s going to be one of the players once the team holistically gets better, I feel like you’ll see him dramatically get better as well.” Decorated AFLW player Kate McCarthy, who will again join Wingard as part of the Seven team this AFL season, said the signs were good after Reid returned for the start of pre-season in ripping condition. “I’m looking forward to seeing Harley with another sort of preseason. He looks like he’s in supreme fitness and he’s ready to go and has really applied himself in the off-season,” she said. “Which is great to see because when he was at full flight, it was something that you almost turned the telly on just to watch Harley Reid in full flight. “And then obviously Will Duursma going over there. It looks like the two of those are building a nice little duo.” McCarthy backed the appointment of Liam Baker as co-captain alongside Liam Duggan. She also hoped premiership Eagle Elliot Yeo could return to in full physical condition. Yeo, 32, missed all of 2025 after sustaining injuries to his knee and ankle in the pre-season. He has been All-Australian as a midfielder and half-back, with talk he may even go forward in 2026. McCarthy said it was important Yeo simply knew his role. “Make it really clear to him,” she said. “If that is as an in and under mid that’s feeding the ball out to the likes of Harley Reid or your outside runners, then nail that and get that right. “I think he’s had to wear so many hats because of his injuries and then other midfielders’ injuries and the form of the team as well. “If they can get his role right and get him in the right parts of stoppages or in the forward line, that will really help to have a player with his experience, to be able to nail that role and sure people up around him.”