Harley Reid: West Coast Eagles star shows love for special Puma back page of The Sunday Times ahead of debut

Harley Reid took time out ahead of his much-anticipated AFL debut to show love for The Sunday Times’ back page after his sponsor Puma set up a special eye-catching gesture.

Reid will make his long-awaited first AFL appearance for West Coast when the Eagles tackle Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The No.1 draftee has had no shortage of time on the back page of The West Australian and The Sunday Times, but Puma took it to another level on the day of his first match.

Featuring a complete black page, Puma simply put the words “A back page without the pressure... Good luck mate” and their logo.

The page has gone viral, with rival news organisations picking up the story about the extraordinary measures to support their teenage star.

Puma even put out a video on their social media channels spruiking the back page which has received an overwhelming positive response.

“Ahead of your debut, no additional pressure from us, and no more back page headlines with your name (for now). Alongside most footy fans, we just want to wish you heaps of luck and love from the PUMA fam. Good luck mate,” Puma’s Instagram post read.

Even Reid himself responded to the support, commenting with two hands making a love heart.

Reid’s teammate Josh Rotham also liked the post, while plenty of others praised the gesture.

“Amazing support guys,” Reid’s AFL player agent Nick Gieschen wrote.

“This is next level - absolute class,” Xavier Cordier said.

The West Australian sports editor Jakeb Waddell said the response to the back page had been “unsurprisingly” overwhelming.

“Puma’s brilliantly thought out back page gag feels like the perfect crescendo to the months of hype lead up to Harley Reid’s AFL debut,” he said.

“The response has been massive, much like it has been each time the young talent has featured on the back cover since he was drafted.

“Our State loves its footy and we are proud that The West Australian continues to be at the centre of the State’s biggest AFL narratives.”

The Eagles also got on board with the hype, releasing a video of Reid watching the highlights of past Eagles to wear the No,9 guernsey including dual premiership star Peter Wilson, Brownlow medallist and former captain Ben Cousins and superstar ruckman Nic Naitanui.