West Coast superstar Harley Reid has made a late return to the second half of his side’s clash with Collingwood after copping a succession of knocks across the first two quarters.

The rising Eagle did not join the rest of his teammates out on Optus Stadium ahead of the third term against the Magpies, instead undergoing some extra physical work in the change rooms.

In a testing first half against the Magpies, Reid received a knock which left him with a cork and also copped several blows to his right shoulder.

Even while looking well below his bullocking physical best, the 20-year-old managed to gather 11 disposals and win three clearances across the first two terms against the Magpies.

At the six-minute mark of the term, he returned to the field and promptly headed into their on-ball brigade, despite suggestions he would be used as a deep forward.

The battles with his body have not helped him escape the attention of Collingwood’s Ed Allan, who is continuing to closely monitor him at centre bounces.

Reid only fleetingly hit his top speed throughout the third term but appeared to be covering the ground with no less verve than he was in the first half.

He had one signature moment with a fend-off of Collingwood’s Josh Daicos, only for a subsequent attempted bounce to not return to him.

Later in the term, his frustrations appeared to bubble to the fore as he gave up a down-the-ground free kick for a late hit on Magpies superstar Nick.

But he bounced back in its dying moments, breaking a run of three Collingwood goals in a row by breaking clear from a stoppage and snapping from the goal square.

In his side’s eventual 19-point defeat, Reid finished with 30 disposals — of which 23 were handballs — and six clearances.

Speaking moments before the second half began, Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said their brains trust was “talking about” using Reid as a deep forward.

“He’s got a big corky and we’re doing a bit of work on it,” McQualter told Fox Footy.

“He might need to spend a bit of time up forward, if he has to.”