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Harley Reid has divided fans and some of his team-mates with his brand new haircut.
As the Eagles first-to-fourth year players returned to pre-season training this week, their No 1 draft pick turned up with a set of tightly woven braids.
It came as the 20-year-old star midfielder raised alarm bells during a training session on Monday, with 7NEWS reporter Ryan Daniels writing that Reid had pulled up during a fitness test with a sore calf.
Reid and the rest of the side were conducting a maximal aerobic speed test when he appeared to step away from the session, pointing at his leg. Thankfully for Andrew McQualter and his team, the injury doesn’t seem to be as bad as first feared, with Daniels stating that the issue appeared to be cramp.
‘Harley has joined training again - crisis averted,’ Daniels later wrote on social media.
In a video published on Instagram by his barber, Swickcuts, Reid was seen grinning from ear-to-ear as his hairdresser braided his long blonde hair into a set of cornrows.
Harley Reid (pictured) has revealed his new hairstyle on the eve of the 2026 AFL season
His barber, Swickcuts, published a clip on Instagram showing Reid's barber tightly weaving his hair into the braid
It is a new style that Reid is understood to have been contemplating for a long time.
But some fans were left divided by the look.
One wrote in the caption: ‘This is mad,’ while another was less than impressed: ‘Questionable.’
His captain, Liam Duggan, claimed he was happy to see the star midfielder ‘bringing his flair to his game,' despite adding that he wasn't a fan of the new style.
‘I actually saw Harley’s hair two days ago,’ Duggan told PerthNow.
‘I didn’t like it, but I’m glad that he’s bringing his flair. He’s actually been speaking about doing it for a long time and he’s had a go at it.
‘He was pretty nervous to take off his hood on Friday in 28 degrees when we were training down at McGillivray (Oval).
‘Good on him. He’s bringing his flair to his game, so it’s pretty exciting.’
Reid's (pictured) captain, Liam Duggan, claimed he was happy to see the star midfielder ‘bringing his flair to his game,' despite adding that he wasn't a fan of the new style
Despite his new haircut, Reid’s decision to stick with the West Coast, amid interest from clubs in Victoria, was a huge relief for the embattled footy club
Reid’s decision to stick with the West Coast, amid interest from clubs in Victoria, was a huge relief for the embattled footy club.
Since joining the side during the 2023 National Draft, Reid has gone on to enjoy a fine start to life in footy’s top flight, despite the Eagles’ woes over the past few years.
While he has not been far from controversy, copping fines last year for flipping the bird at a group of Brisbane Lions fans while also being blasted by Channel 7’s Kane Cornes for his training standards, Reid has been a positive influence for the struggling Eagles, amassing 24 goals across 39 appearances over the last two years.
And with key players Oscar Allen and Liam Ryan departing the footy club during the trade period, securing Reid for another two years was a huge coup for the West Coast.
‘The players - on field, it probably hasn't gone to plan as much as we would like - But yeah, I think they play a big part of why I wanted to stay,’ Reid said to Nine News on his decision to stay.
‘I think when you sit down with your close ones and circle of trust, you try and find the right decision. But I think either way, you've gotta do your time, and for me, it just wasn't the right time and I wanted to stay. I look forward to seeing what happens.’
