Eagles’ rising star hopeful Harley Reid has two-game suspension upheld at tribunal

West Coast wunderkind Harley Reid has failed to halve his two-game dangerous tackle suspension at the AFL tribunal.

Last year’s No.1 draft pick, Reid was cited for slinging St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson to the ground in the Eagles’ 14-point loss at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

Wilson’s head hit the turf as a result of the forceful tackle but he was cleared of concussion and returned to the field.

The league’s match review officer charged Reid with rough conduct and graded the incident as careless contact, high impact and high contact, drawing a two-match ban.

West Coast argued the tackle should be deemed medium impact, in a bid to downgrade the suspension to one game.

Reid, 19, will miss Saturday’s game against North Melbourne, then the round-15 game against Essendon after the bye, while he is ineligible for the AFL’s Rising Star award due to his suspension.

He did not give evidence on Tuesday night, with counsel David Grace KC speaking as Reid watched on via video conference.

AFL counsel Sally Flynn asserted Reid’s rough-conduct charge was a clear example of an inherently dangerous tackle, pointing out the potential to cause a concussion or neck injury.

The tribunal, including chair Renee Enbom KC and panel members Darren Gaspar and Paul Williams, deliberated for 53 minutes and believed there was “considerable” potential for injury from the “poorly executed” tackle.

The AFL’s assertion the nature of the tackle — to lift, rotate and sling Wilson backwards onto the ground — had the potential to cause a serious head or neck injury was accepted, maintaining Wilson was “lucky” he landed the way he did.

St Kilda’s medical report said Wilson did not require any treatment after the incident.

West Coast cited four examples of previous tackles in Reid’s defence.