- Sumich had been writing for the West Australian newspaper
- Hit Harley Reid with some criticism in a recent column
- 56-year-old has now it out at his former employer
Former West Coast star Peter Sumich has resigned from his job as a newspaper columnist because an article he wrote criticising the Eagles’ No.1 draft pick Harley Reid was knocked back.
The 56-year-old great said he has stopped writing for the West Australian because the paper branded his take on Reid ‘too harsh’ and refused to publish it.
‘I gave the kid a pump-up and said he is going to be a good player but everyone is carrying on like he is going to be [former West Coast superstar] Chris Judd,’ Sumich told News Corp.
‘I was there when Chris Judd was there and what I saw of Chris Judd in his first two or three years, this kid doesn’t even compare to Chris Judd, so I don’t know why people are carrying on.
Sumich (pictured at a West Coast game in 2022) has resigned from his newspaper job after his column criticising Harley Reid was knocked back for publication
Reid (pictured in a practice match this month) was drafted No.1 overall by the Eagles and is considered a generational talent by many experts
‘I said he has got a little bit of puppy fat and he needs to tidy up this and that, but that was it.
‘He [Reid] has been here since December or so, so let’s say 50 days, and I reckon he has been in the paper for 40 of those 50 days … and on the back page [for] probably 20 of them … it’s not a good sign.’
Reid was snapped up by West Coast in last November’s draft in a move that surprised nobody in football.
The highly rated Victorian was arguably the most-hyped draftee in AFL history, with many experts viewing him as a generational talent.
Reid was forced to defend himself ahead of the draft amid speculation he was less than happy to move to the other side of the country.
‘It was pretty annoying at times when they say it and they really haven’t even met you,’ Reid said.
Sumich’s banned column saw him take a shot at Reid for having ‘a little bit of puppy fat’
The legendary West Coast forward also said Reid can’t compare to Eagles great Chris Judd (pictured earlier this year)
Sumich (pictured playing in the 1991 AFL grand final) retired as the team’s all-time leading goalkicker after playing 150 games
‘It [the Eagles jumper] is on me now, so hopefully that puts a bit of word out there that I’m keen to go over there and get stuck into it.’
Reid joined a rebuilding West Coast outfit that has won just five games over the last two seasons and will wear the No.9 guernsey made famous by club greats Ben Cousins and Nic Naitanui.
Sumich forged a well-earned reputation as one of the competition’s premier forwards as he kicked 514 goals in his 150 games for the Eagles from 1989 to 1997.
That made him the club’s all-time leading goalkicker when he retired, and he played a leading role in the club’s first premiership win in 1992.
He went on to become an assistant coach with West Coast and Fremantle after his playing days were over.
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