Harley Reid: West Coast superstar appears set to represent Victoria in State of Origin clash against WA

Harley Reid appears set to pull on Victoria’s jumper for next year’s State of Origin clash with WA in Perth after being given a strong endorsement by the State’s chairman of selectors Garry Lyon. And Lyon believes the opportunity to learn from some of the game’s greatest players could be “the best thing that ever happened” to the West Coast rising superstar. Lyon, a former Victorian captain who has remained a strong advocate in the media for State of Origin’s return in the media, was unveiled as the State’s chairman of selectors on Thursday. Victoria will be able to call upon a star-studded group of players for the February 14 clash at Optus Stadium, including Western Bulldogs legend Marcus Bontempelli, Collingwood phenom Nick Daicos, Brownlow medallist Matt Rowell and Fremantle stars Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw. But Lyon said he was hopeful coach Chris Scott would be open to including some up-and-coming talent, recalling how a 21-year-old Brent Harvey burst onto the scene with a five-goal haul in the most recent state-versus-state game in 1999. “Can you imagine how much he would benefit from walking into that four-day camp and training and preparing and sitting at breakfast and talking to the best players in the competition. It would be the best thing that ever happened to him,” Lyon told SEN. “Without pre-empting anything, I could see how that would be a great thing for Harley and the game and the promotion of the game.” Lyon said his own opportunities to represent Victoria and count legends including Gary Ablett Sr and Jason Dunstall among his teammates remained “one of the great thrills of my footy career”. “I want that for these players, if it’s Caleb Serong coming back from Western Australia to walk in or it’s Noah Anderson and Matt (Rowell) to walk in and sit alongside our modern day greats, that’s what I want them to be able to experience, because I know what it meant for me,” he said. “It’s pure footy, that’s what it is. It’s as pure as it gets. “We’re not going to beg players to come back and play State footy. They’ve said they want it, the AFL have thrown considerable weight and resources to it, they’ll be well compensated for it, it’s going to be massive over in Western Australia, it will be a sell-out, so I’m really confident we’re going to get a strong side.”