Reid vs. Reid

By Alison Zell

There will be no love lost between the Sydney Swans faithful and Collingwood supporters when the two teams face off for a Grand Final berth in Friday night’s Preliminary Final.

But spare a thought for Bruce and Kay Reid who not only have to watch their two sons line up for opposing teams, but have to see them play directly on each other.

And Kay had some words of advice for her two sons ahead of the big game, as she told 7 News Melbourne this week.

“Ben, don’t hold him or do anything,” Kay said.

“Sam, don’t hurt your brother!”

20-year-old Sam is the young Swans key forward who has quickly become one of the most important parts of the Swans team in just 44 games in red and white. After debuting in the final round of 2010, he kicked 22 goals in 23 games in 2011 and was rewarded with a five year contract last year.

Older brother Ben, 23, has been a Magpie since being drafted at pick eight in the 2006 AFL Draft. He was a key member of Collingwood’s 2010 Premiership and was selected at centre-half-back in the 2011 All Australian team.

Ben and Sam will become just the eleventh set of brothers to play in opposing teams in a final when they take the field on Friday night and their parents will be watching their every move.

“[I’ll be] clapping every score and then clapping every spoil, so I’ll be very busy,” Kay said.

“It is difficult to watch them play,” dad Bruce said.

“In some ways I’d probably rather stay at home and watch it on television … It might be less stressful.”

The battle between the Reid brothers looms as one of the key factors in the clash between the two sides, with Ben one of the Magpies’ best in their win over the West Coast Eagles last weekend.

Collingwood have recorded 11 straight wins over the Sydney Swans, including a narrow eight-point victory at the same venue in Round 20 this year.

Tellingly, Sam was injured for that game and it was the Swans’ lack of forward options that contributed to the loss with Lewis Roberts-Thomson the only multiple goal-scorer.

It will be just the second time the pair have played against each other in a competition match and while a packed ANZ Stadium will have its eyes on the two number 20s as they play off for a Grand Final berth, Bruce and Kay Reid just want their boys to do their best.