Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Harley Reid is set to face scrutiny from the match review officer for a tackle that could place Hawthorn skipper Jai Newcombe under a cloud ahead of his team’s qualifying final clash against Fremantle.
Reid slung Newcombe to the ground early in the final term of Sunday’s home-and-away finale at Optus Stadium.
The Eagle had a hold of the back of Newcombe’s jumper before pulling him to the turf, with the Hawk’s head slamming into the ground.
Newcombe remained on the turf for several moments as he was assessed by medical staff before getting up to take his kick and slot a long-range goal. He immediately went to the bench after that, but returned minutes later amid medical staff examining replays of the incident. He then spent the final stretch of the match on the bench.
If there are any concussion symptoms in the coming days, it could impact Newcombe’s hopes of playing in the qualifying final. That match is expected to be scheduled for Thursday September 3, 11 days from Sunday’s game, and inside the 12-day recovery window.
Speaking immediately after the final siren, Newcombe told Seven he was confident he had nothing to worry about.
“We’re good,” he said. “Nice crack on the back of the scone.”
Reid’s fate will be in the hands of the Match Review Officer, with the Eagles to sweat on the availability of their biggest drawcard ahead of their start to 2027.
The free kick conceded was Reid’s 68th of the season, surpassing Garry Hocking’s 67 from 1991 for the most ever by a player in a year in the AFL era.
