West Coast great Andrew Embley backs Eagles, Harley Reid to turn around historically horrific clearance woes

Norm Smith medallist Andrew Embley has backed West Coast’s new-look midfield led by a fit Harley Reid to improve their clearance work on the back of a historically bad season. Exclusive Champion Data statistics obtained by The West Australian reveal the Eagles were the worst clearance team in their history of records last year, as well as the fourth worst for contested possession. West Coast averaged only 31 clearances a game last season and conceded 42, while they were also ranked last in the AFL for both points from clearance and contested possessions. Their round one opponents in Gold Coast comprehensively beat them in all these areas in the corresponding fixture last year, winning the clearances 50-33, contested possession 145-102 and inside 50s 67-34 on their way to an 87-point victory. In West Coast’s favour is the fact their starting engine room is set to look entirely different at People First Stadium on Sunday, with dual club champion Elliot Yeo back from a serious ankle injury which sidelined him all of last year, while former Brisbane midfielder Deven Robertson will add more strength at the contest. Embley said the support of senior players such as Yeo and Robertson would help Reid — who led the Eagles for clearances last year — improve and close the gap on the competition’s best midfields. “A fully fit Harley Reid is a big difference. The kid is a star, we saw what he did in his first year and was certainly getting better as the season went on last year,” Embley said. “He definitely looks like he’s stripped down and he’s stronger. I would expect that while it is only his third year, he will be an important player through the midfield. “Robertson will be a good addition as well. Against Port Adelaide where West Coast got beaten up a bit through the midfield, he was strong around the contest, found the football and he’s only going to get better once he gets chemistry with the other players.” Dual West Coast premiership star Guy McKenna said opposition teams would now have to worry about more than just Reid in 2026. “When (Reid) didn’t have those senior players supporting him he struggled physically and mentally just to deal with the added pressure of being tagged because he was the standout midfielder,” McKenna said. “With those senior boys back in form and fitness ... then all of a sudden he might be able to get off the chain because if he is sat on and then the likes of Yeo and (Tim) Kelly get off the chain guess who gets tagged off that following week? It won’t be Harley. “I’d assume with another pre-season Harley will have more of an ability to run through quarters and games. And the physical ability — I’m not just talking Harley — but all the other younger ones who go through and support the older ones are able to go through and sustain their pressure and physical pressure for longer. So they have to get better.” As the inaugural coach of Gold Coast, McKenna has seen first-hand how long it takes for a young midfield to improve and said Eagles’ fans should expect incremental differences over the next few years. “When you’re dealing with a bunch of young kids they physically get belted,” he said. “I look at this old score worm at Gold Coast. In our first year we’d get to quarter time and be competitive and then fall away. Surprise, surprise in our second year we got to half-time and in our third year we got to three-quarter time and we won eight games, then we’d fall away. “It takes time to put on the size as well as get the speed, the endurance and the ability for these young bodies to absorb (the physicality). “I’m sure they will be better and I’m sure across the ground they will be more competitive which will give them a chance to win some more games but I wouldn’t be expecting miracles.”