‘Back him no matter what’: Ex-coach’s strong Harley defence; ‘moment’ Stringer wowed Giants — Best of 360

Harley Reid’s former coach has unequivocally defended the former No. 1 pick after more combative antics.

Plus Jake Stringer has opened up on the “moment” he felt like he made a real statement at the Giants.

Read on for the best of Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday night.

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SIMPSON DEFENDS ‘ROUGH DIAMOND’ REID

Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson says he’ll back in Harley Reid “no matter what” after the former No. 1 pick’s combative antics have again been questioned.

Reid in the Eagles’ loss to Port Adelaide last weekend received a 13th fine in his 37-game career and gave away six free kicks including clashing with fellow former No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis.

But Simpson, who was Reid’s first coach last year, said he’d defend the 20-year old to the hills and had the ultimate faith in where his career was going when asked about the young gun.

“I am the wrong person to ask because I’m going to have rose coloured glasses for the rest of my life with Harley. He can get rubbed out for 12 weeks. I’m just going to back him in,” Simpson said.

“I’m not really interested in the rhetoric around his form or what he’s done. I’m probably the wrong person to ask, because I know the kid and I know what he’s working through and where he’s going to go. I’ve got nothing but empathy.

“I just back him in no matter what and I know that’s what Andrew McQualter is doing.

“I know there’s some criticism around: ‘They should be teaching him a lesson’. It looked to me on game day he came off at the five-minute mark of the first quarter and he got on the phone and obviously would’ve a chat we’ve had 1 million times before.

“Don’t underestimate what happens behind closed doors and don’t judge them too early, that’s the only thing I’m going to say.”

Any lip readers!? JHF & Reid go at it! | 00:24

Simpson added “there’s two types of prodigies” and both have pathways to superstardom, with Reid falling into the “rough diamonds” camp.

“There’s the Nick Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli types. Ready to go, they come in and are full on professional. Barely need to do any coaching,” the 2018 premiership coach said.

“Then there’s the rough diamonds, no disrespect. But Buddy Franklin, Dusty Martin and Jordan De Goey.

“I know Harley is not in the perfect player (mould) just yet, but he could be anything in the future. It just needs a bit of polish, that’s all. I’m willing to be patient.”

Ex-Swans John Longmire said sometimes it just takes “a bit of maturity,” pointing to how in Toby Greene’s early days he “might’ve been pushing the boundaries with different things and suspensions”.

“I keep on saying about these guys, give me the competitors, mate,” Longmire added.

‘MOMENT’ STRINGER REALLY ARRIVED IN GWS

Jake Stringer might be nicknamed ‘The ‘Package’. But it wasn’t until Round 15 he felt like he really arrived at GWS in a football sense.

It was a comeback win over Gold Coast when Stringer really announced himself at his third club after his body let him down at stages earlier this season.

Stringer kicked two goals in the fourth quarter to help the Giants surge home, despite starting the game as the sub. And it was the first time he felt like he made a real impression at GWS.

Stringer on moment he 'arrived' at GWS | 00:46

“For me that was the moment it felt like they were like: ‘OK, he’s here’,” Stringer said.

“After the game it was probably one of the better feelings I’ve had in my time, because the boys were going nuts about it. It was pretty cool.

“To be able to back it up over the next couple of weeks is also very pivotal. Because the position we’re in at the moment we’re fighting every week.”

The 31-year old, who was traded to the Giants at the end of last season following stints at Essendon, who he comes up against for the first time this weekend, and Western Bulldogs, admitted he was “absolutely” nervous when he first made the move to Western Sydney.

“I thought I could still cut it at the level, but obviously going into somewhere as a 30-year old. I wasn’t super close with anyone really going there,” Stringer added.

“For them to get around me the way they did, to be honest, it feels like I’ve been there for a long time.”

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