I think I need a bit of guidance here.
The topic - number one draft picks and their AFL destination.
Which clubs get them, which clubs trade for them, and what does the number one pick himself think? Given the system sends the player somewhere they wouldn't necessarily want to go.
There’s been a heck of a lot written and said about Harley Reid this year, the nominal number one pick from Tongala in country Victoria. He is still three months from becoming an AFL player.
Perhaps more than any of his future contemporaries, his landing spot has been the subject of endless speculation.
We know he's going to be a star.
Reports last month claim those in the Reid camp had been suggesting to clubs in recent times that the midfielder would prefer to stay in Victoria and that's where they think he'll end up being the best version of himself.
The line that jumped out was from Sam McClure when he said on The Tradies podcast that Harley Reid had essentially told West Coast that he didn't want to be drafted there.
EAGLES RESPOND AS REPORT SUGGESTS HARLEY REID PREFERS TO STAY IN VICTORIA
Now this was howled down from all corners of the discussion.
But to be honest, in recent times, Harley himself hasn't helped the situation.
News yesterday emerged in The West Australian that Reid had this week liked an Instagram post from the Footy on Nine account and it certainly raised eyebrows.
The post he liked, it was a quote from Eddie McGuire on Footy Classified saying, 'Tonight I can tell you that the board is contemplating whether to sack Adam Simpson’.
Now that like from Harley Reid has since been removed. Simpson has previously defended Reid too, calling for people to leave him alone amid the swarm of publicity.
Maybe, maybe this was just a spur of the moment social media mistake.
Except, it wasn't the first time.
On last weekend's Sunday Footy Show, Kane Cornes said this of the Eagles after their bench saga involving Brady Hough.
‘The whole thing is laughable. The whole club is a joke. They're an absolute embarrassment’.
Harley Reid liked that Instagram post as well, before removing that like.
And the interactions, I can tell you, are genuine.
Yes, he's only 18.
So, am I missing something? Do kids these days just scroll and like everything on social media?
I've spoken to those close to Harley who say we shouldn't look into it too closely and that kids these days just scroll and like almost on autopilot.
Am I way off base thinking that you shouldn't like posts being highly critical of the club your representatives have publicly stated you've got no issue joining?
Posts that also state the coach could be sacked. Should you be liking those?
Now, Harley Reid has nearly 29,000 followers on Instagram.
Is this as simple as getting used to life in the public eye or is it something more deliberate than that?
If you're of a cynical mind, then that mind might wander to when Jason Horne-Francis halfway through last year at North Melbourne liked an Instagram post that had him involved in a hypothetical trade to Port Adelaide.
Most of us filed away under the bizarre file. But then four months later, he requested a trade to that very club.
Is this the modern way to condition the draft or the modern way to condition trade markets?
Is there even anything wrong with suggesting however subtly and via whatever channel that you'd prefer to stay in Victoria? Or whatever your home state might be?
It's not a demand, it's not a threat. It's just an honest answer to a question that they're always asked come interview time.
I'm not sure you can go down the whole draft tampering path in this instance. I'm sure if West Coast are wedded to Harley Reid, they'll take him.
Rival clubs I've spoken to this morning are of the view that Reid doesn't want to go to West Coast.
He is certainly making it clear behind the scenes to people that he would much prefer not to go there.
Having said all that, I'd be surprised if West Coast don't trade pick one, given their need to get as much young top end talent in as possible.
So, he might get his wish after all.