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AAP
Justin Chadwick

Harley Reid's fend-offs already wowing AFL fans

Harley Reid is building his own cult following despite West Coast Eagles' worrying slump. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

The Harley Reid fend-off is already building a cult following with West Coast defender Jayden Hunt believing the 18-year-old is "almost untackable".

Reid continued his strong start to his AFL career with 17 possessions, four tackles and three clearances in Sunday's 65-point loss to GWS.

It followed on from 16 disposals and five clearances in his AFL debut against Port Adelaide in round one.

Reid's opening terms have been particularly impressive, but it is his Dustin Martin-like fend-off that is garnering the most attention.

"One thing I noticed straight away with Harley was he was almost untackable in the pre-season," Hunt told reporters on Tuesday.

"I got a few lumps in my chest from him in pre-season.

"For such a young kid, he's super strong and takes the game on. We definitely want him to keep doing that."

West Coast are at the bottom of the ladder and hot favourites to take out a second straight wooden spoon.

Although the Eagles have shown more willingness to take the game on this season, their poor skills have been their undoing.

That fact was particularly evident against the Giants, who kicked eight unanswered goals from late in the first quarter to midway through the third as they feasted on West Coast turnovers. 

"We were able to compete in the actual contest and around stoppages, but the scoreboard was not reflecting that," Hunt said.

"Skill errors really cost us, especially against a GWS team that loves running in waves through the corridor.

"We took it on which is a good thing, but we were definitely a bit scrappy with that and that really hurt us.

"It's something we're going to work on."

West Coast face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday and are hoping of a repeat of last year's result.

In the round-23 match, West Coast all but ended the Bulldogs' finals hopes with a shock seven-point win on enemy territory.

The Eagles will have to keep a close eye on forward Cody Weightman, who kicked six goals in the Bulldogs' 48-point win over Gold Coast last week.

The job could fall to Eagles defender Brady Hough, who restricted Toby Greene to just one goal from 16 disposals on Sunday.

"Toby's such a quality player and he got an early goal, but it didn't stop Hough at all, he kept competing," Hunt said.

"For him to be a young player and play on that absolute superstar and hold his own is such a good thing. I was really proud of him."

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