School is fresh in the mind of Reuben Ginbey.

Hardly surprising considering he finished Year 12 only last year. For most who finish school, they’re in no hurry to go back.

But Ginbey, star wingman Andrew Gaff and emerging midfielder Connor West thoroughly enjoyed a school visit to Mandurah today – a rare event in recent years because of the outbreak of COVID-19 and it's knock-on effects.

The interaction through a question and answer session with primary school students was cherished as they faced the probing enquiries from the kids.

‘What’s your favourite food?’… ‘what do you eat before a game?’… ‘What’s it like playing football?’… ‘How far away is your oval?’ But the best of all was ‘what are you going to do when you grow up?’

Gaff took it on first, having completed a commerce degree at University part time over 10 years’. West plans to be a school teacher and Ginbey is still settling into his football career before plotting life after what is hopefully a prosperous career with the Eagles.

For Ginbey, during the introduction when he listed his guernsey number, where he had come from and the influences to this point in his life, reflected on similar visits where he grew up in Dunsborough.  

“I still remember when the Eagles came down to my home town Dunsborough and the local footy club,” he said. “I remember the big boys like JK (Josh Kennedy) and Nic (Naitanui) being there, so it feels great to be in the position where I can have the influence that they did when I was growing up.

“If you’re a footy fan – and even if you’re not – it really makes your week. As the principal was saying here, they’ll be talking about this for the rest of the year. 

“As a kid you definitely idolise the players you grew up watching but now that I am in an AFL environment that has been put to one side. I’m just focused on my own footy and guys like Luke Shuey are the people I look up to now.

“Myself and the other draftees talked about how we looked up to AFL players and you don’t realise you’re one of them. But as you build relationships you feel like you’re one of them.”

Ginbey, the club’s first selection in the 2022 National Draft (#9 overall), has been impressive in pre-season and undoubtedly belongs in the elite environment. He’s pushing for early opportunities in what is looming as a competitive battle for places in the midfield.

For now though he’s enjoying the opportunity to engage with kids as part of the club’s Community Camp in Mandurah.