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Matthew Lloyd has confessed he wonders why North Melbourne pushed to defeat Gold Coast in the final round of the 2023 season, moving them off the bottom of the ladder and missing out on highly-touted No.1 draft pick Harley Reid, who landed at West Coast.
The Roos beat the Suns by 35 points, inspired by a nine-goal haul from forward Nick Larkey, shooting them from 18th to 17th, meaning they dropped down in the draft order.
With the first pick of the 2023 draft just weeks later, the Eagles would go on to select Reid, who has now gone on to be named the round five AFL rising star in just his fifth ever career game.
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Reid collected an impressive 27 disposals and kicked a goal in the Eagles 39-point win over Richmond, their first of the season.
Meantime, the lifeless North Melbourne were smashed by Geelong by 75 points, as they roll into round six with an 0-5 record.
Now Lloyd is convinced that if the Roos didn’t worry about winning that fateful game last season, they could have landed Reid, who may have helped to make their club “relevant” again.
“Do you feel justified in saying that North should essentially have tanked to get this guy (Reid) late in the season?,” Kane Cornes asked on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday night.
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“I’ve never thought this way in my whole life – until I’m seeing what Harley Reid’s going to do for West Coast for the next 15 years,” Lloyd answered.
“You forget who won that game of footy (in 2023), but you don’t forget what this guy (Reid) could be potentially for the next 15 years.”
Lloyd declared that Reid, who was arguably one of the most hyped draftees in recent history, has brought the once-lowly Eagles back to life.
“To me, West Coast has been non-existent. Now, you turn on the television and (you want to watch),” Lloyd said.
“I’ve been against that (tanking)… but for one win (in 2023), versus catapulting your club up the ladder (by taking Reid).”
Cornes simply agreed.
“He’s made them relevant.”
The Eagles now have one win on the board, while the Kangaroos will go searching for their first of 2024 against Hawthorn on Sunday.
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