West Coast Eagles debutant Archer Reid compared to champions Jeremy Cameron, Tom Lynch by talent boss

The talent boss of Archer Reid’s junior club sold West Coast debutant Archer Reid to recruiters as a hybrid of Jeremy Cameron and Tom Lynch. The exciting 203cm had to wait a full season, but will make his debut for the Eagles in their season opener against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday. His first few months at the club were hindered by a partially torn ACL and he bided time in the WAFL last season. But Reid is one of the most tantalising players in the Eagles’ crop of youngsters. He kicked 17 goals in 15 WAFL games to push for a senior berth late last year. Under new coach Andrew McQualter, Reid is the first choice to play as a forward-ruck in an Eagles outfit that is about to embark on a new era. Gippsland Power talent manager Scott McDougal said Reid’s athleticism and size reminded him of star forwards Cameron and Lynch. That’s what he told recruiters who called about the teenager. “There was a point where I was trying to describe him as a kid to potential recruiters and I couldn’t,” McDougal told The West Australian. “There was some Jeremy Cameron running ability with him and there was a Tom Lynch power and strength side to him. I tried to say he was a mix between the two. “He showcased a little bit of that early in his Vic Country trial games as a bottom-ager, he really set that alight. Athletically he is what you want in a big man, he can get up and down the ground but he’s also strong in the contest.” McDougal said Reid was always “fairly advanced” when it came to his body compared to brother — Essendon defender Zach — which helped him stand out as a young key-position player. “He was always a thicker version of the Reids. Zach was a skinny version when he came through, he’s more like his older brother Kyle in the fact he was fairly solid,” he said. “Archer was able to handle a lot of the loads that were put on him as a youngster. “He’s a hard working kid and diligent, that’s why he’s made every post a winner at the Eagles.” While Reid will split his time between the ruck and forward line, it was as a key target in attack where his strengths lie. Playing for Inverloch-Kongwak in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition in 2023, Reid kicked bags of six and five goals, while for the Power he was rampant across a three-game stretch where he kicked 11 goals. And at WAFL level last year he booted three goals against West Perth in round 15 to showcase his immense talent. “He likes to lead up hard at the footy, he’s technically good at a set shot — he hasn’t shown it in the practice matches but he is,” McDougal said. “He’s a forward-ruck in my humble opinion but he’s tall and strong enough to do some ruck work around the ground and that will develop the more football he plays and the more he’s exposed to it.” West Coast teammate Jake Waterman said Reid had “the tools” to make it as both a forward and a ruck. “I’ve been so impressed since he comes through last year, just look at his stature he is huge,” he said. “He’s a blank canvas and he’s put on a bit of weight, he’s still got a bit to go but the way he applies himself to learning structures, learning game plans, and getting the best out of himself. “He plays an interesting position where if he’s probably going to be playing in the side, he’d be playing forward and a bit of ruck, which is a tough position no doubt but he’s got the tools. “I think eventually he’ll just be a mainstay key forward once he’s filled his body out and he’s put on a bit of size but that’s probably his role in our side at the moment and we’ve just got to be there to support him and try to help him grow as a player. “We just need him to be a consistent player on our team, we don’t need him to to be trying to kick all these goals he just needs to go after his role and try to do that as best he can.” Reid told The West Australian last month that he’d spent the summer working on his frame and learning off five-time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern to give himself the best chance in 2025. “Over the off-season I was on a diet, eating a lot more than usual, and I’ve been in the gym a lot,” he said. “I was a little, skinny bloke last year, so having to put on size was a bit different, but something you have to do. “Coming into an AFL club, it’s pretty daunting, but over the last year and this pre-season playing on someone like Gov... he’s giving me tips as well out on the ground, telling me where to run and whatnot. My confidence has gone up quiet a bit.”