Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell admits the club may not be able to afford to poach in-demand star Harley Reid amid reports he could fetch up to $2 million per season at West Coast.

Mitchell revealed he posed the question to his list management team, asking if they were indeed “obsessed” with the 20-year-old.

Reports published this week suggest Hawthorn are desperate to add the former No.1 draft pick to their young midfield group, but with record-breaking deals being discussed, Mitchell said it could be beyond the brown and gold’s pockets.

“If I’m really honest, I actually don’t know (if we could afford him),” he told SEN on Friday.

“I don’t have anything to do with the financial stuff. It doesn’t seem right for us. At some point, that’s going to happen, isn’t it? Whether it’s in this CBA or the next one, the money in the game continues to go up.

“The average salary continues to be higher and higher and higher and as they should be. Everyone wants to play the game, and the spectacle of what we’re putting on at the moment is pretty good. I think the players deserve what they’re getting, it’s just how you attribute that.

“With our midfield as an example, being pretty workmanlike and making sure that we’re consistent across the board. If you’re putting $2 million into one player, that makes it a little bit more difficult, of course.”

Mitchell has shown few reservations about going after West Coast players so far in 2025, having jetted into Perth for a secret meeting with Eagles co-captain Oscar Allan that was later exposed and saw the forward apologise.

The Hawthorn coach was also photographed laughing and joking with Reid at former Eagle Tom Barrass’ wedding, adding fuel to the fire.

But Mitchell said after he heard the word “obsessed” linking Reid and Hawthorn, he felt the need to chat to his list management team.

“I saw the word obsessed and I went in the next day and I said to a couple of list guys, ‘are we obsessed with Harley Reid’? Then I saw some of the numbers that were getting thrown up, and I said, ‘what is happening here’? And they’re like ‘just don’t even read the papers’,” Mitchell said.

“He’s obviously a good player, but he’s contracted to West Coast and he’s having a pretty good year.”

Reid is contracted on his draft deal until the end of 2026, meaning any new contracts wouldn’t kick in until the 2027 campaign.