Zach Reid

Last updated

Zach Reid
2025 R11 Zach Reid 1.jpg
Reid playing for Essendon in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 23)
Original team(s) Gippsland Power (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 10, 2020 national draft
Debut 17 April 2021, Essendon  vs. Brisbane Lions, at The Gabba
Height 202 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight 90 kg (198 lb)
Position(s) Key Defender
Club information
Current club Essendon
Number 31
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2021– Essendon 19 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 11, 2025.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Zach Reid (born 2 March 2002) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for Essendon in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Essendon with the 10th draft pick in the 2020 AFL draft. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Early football

Reid came from Leongatha, [4] [5] where he played for the Leongatha Football Club in the Gippsland Football League. [6] [7] He played 36 games for the club between 2017 and 2020, kicking 35 goals in that time. [8] He played for the Gippsland Power in the NAB League, alongside future draftees Caleb Serong and Sam Flanders, [9] after previously playing for them in the Under 16 squads. [10] He played 15 games with the Power, averaging 11 disposals, 4 marks and 2 tackles a game. [11]

His younger brother Archer Reid plays for the West Coast Eagles and his grandfather Peter McRae played for Footscray in the 1950s. [12]

AFL career

Reid stated that he based his playing style off that of All-Australian Harris Andrews. [13] Reid debuted in the 5th round of the 2021 AFL season, in the Essendon's 57 point loss to Brisbane Lions. [14] [15] [16] On debut, Reid collected 10 disposals, 1 mark and 5 tackles. [17]

Suffering from a stress injury in his back, Reid finished his debut season with one senior game and managed a further seven in 2022 due to a foot injury. [18]

A hamstring injury in July 2023 while playing in the VFL ended Reid's season early with no further senior level AFL games played. [19]

In the first half of the 2025 season, Reid broke out to establish himself as one of the best performing young players in the league. Reid received widespread plaudits for his form, including from club legend James Hird. [20] [21] [22] [23]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2024. [24]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game)
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2021 Essendon 311005510150.00.05.05.010.01.05.0
2022 Essendon 3170035245923160.00.05.03.48.43.32.3
2023 Essendon 310––––––––––––––
2024 Essendon 31100123210.00.01.02.03.02.01.0
Career90041317226220.00.04.63.48.02.92.4

References

  1. ↑ Robinson, Chris; Massey, Kate (9 December 2020). "AFL Draft 2020: Logan McDonald heads to Sydney with Pick 4, Denver Grainger-Barras goes to Hawthorn". The West Australian. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "AFL Draft 2020: Pick-by-pick". The Age. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. ↑ Otto, Tyson (9 December 2020). "AFL Draft 2020: Tears flow in No. 1 pick's emotional moment". News.com.au. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Reid to make debut". essendonfc.com.au. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Niall, Jake (15 April 2021). "Bombers set to blood another prized top 10 pick". The Age. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Power play: Leongatha's Zach Reid kicking on" . 5 October 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Reid called up for Combine Draft". Sentinel Times. 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Zach Reid". Leongatha Football Club. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (29 November 2020). "The 202cm gun who had NAB League's best asking for an explanation". AFL Media. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "Reward for effort for Reid". Gippsland Power. gippslandfooty.com. 3 September 2018. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Zach Reid". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Going west: Inverloch-Kongwak's Archer Reid taken at #30 in AFL Draft". South Gippsland Sentinel Times. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "Quick questions: Zach Reid". essendonfc.com.au. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "Essendon announces debut of third top draft pick". sen.com.au. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  15. ↑ Cotton, Ben (16 April 2021). "Essendon to unveil FIFTH debutant this year in Pick 10 Zach Reid". ZeroHanger. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  16. ↑ "Pick No.10: Zach Reid". essendonfc.com.au. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Brisbane vs Essendon - Player Stats". AFLTables. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "New setback for promising young Bombers defender". AFL.com.au. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  19. ↑ "Injury update: Zach Reid". EssendonFC.com.au. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "James Hird excited as 'highly criticised, injury-prone' young Essendon star emerges before our eyes". Nine Network. 12 May 2025.
  21. ↑ "'Cool, calm and collected': The gazelle-like Bomber revitalising Dons' defence". AFL Media. 13 May 2025.
  22. ↑ "Healy: Reid will be Essendon's best player from the last 20 years". 1116 SEN. 13 May 2025.
  23. ↑ "Dons nail a top pick? You wouldn't Reid about it". Footyology.com.au. 11 May 2025.
  24. ↑ "Zach Reid". AFLTables.
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