Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Murphy Reid was unanimously named best on ground by Justin Longmuir and Dean Cox after the Fremantle Dockers defeated the Sydney Swans by 38 points at Optus Stadium on Thursday night. The teenager received the first perfect coaches’ score of his AFL career.
Murphy Reid collected 28 disposals and a match-high 12 score involvements as the Fremantle Dockers recovered from a goalless first half. His movement between midfield and attack repeatedly opened gaps in the Sydney Swans’ defence.
The performance came during another round featuring debate over Craig McRae’s concerns about AFL video technology.
Sydney Swans Tagging Decision Backfires
The Sydney Swans assigned James Jordon to Andrew Brayshaw rather than Murphy Reid. That allowed Murphy Reid and Shai Bolton to rotate through the forward line without a dedicated defensive opponent.
“One thing you look at is he plays forward mid a lot.”
“So it’s the ability between him and Bolton to to do that. They got off the chain doing that, so we need to be better in that space,” Dean Cox said.
The official AFL coaches’ votes confirmed Murphy Reid as the clear winner.
Votes | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
10 | Murphy Reid | Fremantle Dockers |
6 | Charlie Curnow | Sydney Swans |
4 | Andrew Brayshaw | Fremantle Dockers |
3 | Alex Pearce | Fremantle Dockers |
3 | Josh Treacy | Fremantle Dockers |
3 | Shai Bolton | Fremantle Dockers |
1 | Caleb Serong | Fremantle Dockers |
Port Adelaide Power Await
Murphy Reid next faces the Port Adelaide Power on Saturday. He kicked four goals against them in Perth last season before scoring twice during a six-point Fremantle Dockers comeback at Adelaide Oval.
