A flange for a reel for supporting a wound flexible medium includes a plate member and a set of support elements. The reel includes an elongate core defining a longitudinal core axis. The plate member engages the core and extends radially from the core toward an outer edge and has an axially inclined media engaging surface. The set of support elements have a height extending from the plate member in the axial direction, and a length extending radially, at least a first support element extending radially from proximate the core to proximate the outer edge. The axial distance between the plate member and a top of the first support element proximate the outer edge is less than an axial distance between the plate member and the top of the first support element proximate the core.