Harley Reid has learned his fate after the young West Coast star appeared to flip his middle finger up to Brisbane fans at the Gabba during his side’s defeat to the Lions on Saturday. 

The 19-year-old midfielder, who has been heavily scrutinised by multiple pundits at the start of the 2025 campaign, was jeered by fans after he had been seen wrestling Dane Zorko on the floor. 

Thanks to an indiscretion by Oscar McInerney, Reid won a free-kick close to the touchline, before he was again heckled by Lions fans – one of whom even appeared to offer him a tissue. 

Harley Reid was at the centre of a controversial moment on Sunday after he appeared to raise his middle finger to Brisbane Lions fans

Brisbane fans had appeared to jeer and goad the Eagles youngster, with one attempting to hand him a tissue

Reacting to the news on Seven’s The Agenda Setters, Kane Cornes said that the 2023 No 1 Draft Pick ‘got off lightly’. 

It came after the Eagles had been issued a ‘please explain’ request by the AFL over the gesture made by Reid – who is currently in his second season at the club. 

He had initially escaped a penalty from the match review officer but bosses had sought greater explanation around the incident, as they assessed whether he was deserving of a penalty. 

Eagles boss Andrew McQualter had brushed off the moment as ‘a bit of fun’. 

‘There’s a fair bit of commentary about Harley all the time, so last week was not necessarily different,’ McQualter said post-match.

‘We try and bash the theatre out of this game, don’t we?

‘He’s just having a bit of fun and sometimes that’s good for the game, I think.’

Reid also appeared to have a bit of fun with fans on social media, following the incident, as he changed his Instagram display picture to a picture of Ben Cousins also ‘flipping the bird’. 

Reid has struggled to get his hands on the footy during both of the West Coast’s defeats this season

Some pundits have expressed concerns over his recent performances, with Kane Cornes stating that it was a ‘concern’

Several pundits have expressed concerns over Reid’s recent performances, with the 19-year-old amassing 15 disposals and seven handballs during the Eagles’ 19-point defeat by the Lions. 

Cornes had previously criticised the No 1 Draft Pick following the Eagles’ opening round loss by Gold Coast, stating that he was a ‘real concern’ and had also been accused of simulation.

‘I’ve never said that long term he’s not going to get there, but I think in five or six years time he will,’ Cornes began while reviewing his highlights on the show.

‘What we’re seeing right now is a real concern. The same happened. It’s probably a repeat of what we’ve seen over the past 12 months.

‘The staging, the playing, the flopping for free-kicks.’

Garry Lyon also questioned Reid’s recent on-field performances and some of his antics on AFL 360.

‘I can explain it, don’t be a d***head Harley,’ he told Gerard Whateley. 

‘We spoke about this last week and he got more criticism. He brought that on himself.

Brisbane captain Lachie Neale (right) has hit back at Reid’s critics, telling them to ‘lay off’ the 19-year-old 

‘As I said last week – and pre-empted this – he’s a 19 year old, he will make a fool of himself, embarrass himself and giving seven free kicks away – no good.

‘But he’s 19, learned a lesson and you can learn it the hard way if you want Harley. You’re making it hard for yourself. But he’ll get there.’

Amid all the scrutiny that has surrounded the young Eagles star, Brisbane captain Lachie Neale hit back at commentators who have blasted Reid arguing he has been ‘unfairly’ treated. 

‘I’ve seen a lot of commentary around him… I think people need to lay off him a bit and let him play footy,’ the two-time Brownlow Medallist argued. 

‘He’s a young man trying to find his way in a difficult environment, especially in Perth.’

‘I just want to see the kid play some good footy and enjoy himself, and at the moment, it probably seems like he’s not, and a lot of that is to do with the distractions outside.

‘He’s a 19-year-old kid that’s trying to find his way … I don’t really blame him for the way he’s acting at the moment.

‘I’m sure he’s got good people around him that’ll help. I just want to see that kid do really well, and hopefully we see the best of him in a West Coast jumper.’