Liam Ryan in trouble for brutal act as Eagles prodigy Harley Reid ignites contest against St Kilda

Eagles star Liam Ryan could be facing some time on the sideline after a sickening hit on St Kilda player Liam Stocker as Harley Reid ignited tempers in the fiery contest. St Kilda got off to a fast start against West Coast on Saturday and finished with a 42-point victory as tempers flared among the AFL players.

However, Ryan could find himself in big trouble after he took out Stocker with a high-shot after the whistle in the second quarter. The Eagles were awarded the ball as the whistle went. Except the ball ended up with Stocker as he took a few steps away from the play. But as he slowed down, Ryan came across his path and collected him in the head.

Stocker fell to the ground and lay motionless for a moment. Ryan quickly threw his hands up to apologise, but Stocker was floored. He was then substituted off for a HIA after the head high collision. While Stocker was deemed to have recovered at half-time, the Match Review Officer may have a look at Ryan's case to answer for after the game.

AFL great Brad Johnson deemed Ryan could be in trouble for the hit on Stocker. “Yes he is, because you elect to bump in that situation and the play had stopped there with the free kick anyway," he said. “He’s, in some way, fortunate Stocker is OK to continue on in the game – and we know the outcome is well and truly assessed when from an MRO perspective.”

The AFL has taken a harsh stance on dangerous tackles this year with drama surrounding Charlie Cameron, Toby Bedford and now Ben Keays in the last couple of weeks. And while supporters have slammed the AFL for the extended bans they have been handed out in 2024, fans were left fuming over the Ryan incident that left Stocker on the floor.

Harley Reid prompts backlash over antics

Despite St Kilda running away with the game, Reid was giving it to the players and appeared to get into war-of-words with Rowan Marshall. Bailey Williams took a mark over Marshall, which prompted Reid to give to his rival.

“There’s a bit of feeling in the game now,” Nathan Buckley said in commentary. "Marshall and Reid have been involved in a couple of these contests."

Unfortunately, the Eagles were struggling against the faster St Kilda team as they raced out to a 34-point lead in the third quarter. The comfortably won by 42 points to continue the horror season for the Eagles. “Their transition game is in great shape all over the field,” Buckley said on Fox Sports. “They are absolutely dominant in that part of the game and West Coast can’t find time and space. It’s been one-way traffic.”