As Reuben Ginbey ‘slipped’ down the draft order last November West Coast Eagles recruiting staff had fingers, toes…everything crossed.
When we say ‘slipped’ we are not talking a free fall. He could have been taken at any point from about selection #3, but the Eagles were super keen on the Dunsborough youngster.
He has demonstrated across the pre-season why the Eagles were excited to call him at pick #9. It wasn’t just because he ‘could play.’ It’s the whole package.
Across pre-season track watchers have been given ample evidence of why he was seen as a selection target. But there is more to making the grade at the elite level than pure talent. And Ginbey is smart enough to recognise it.
At this week’s community camp in Mandurah the strongly built utility player was asked whether he thought he should be selected in the opening game of the season against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
His response was every bit as impressive as his work across the summer, playing both half-back and in the midfield. He recognises that the three months he will have in the lead-up to round one is more than simply immersing himself in the club’s training program.
“In terms of pre-season goals, I just want to get AFL ready,” he explained. “Which means getting my fitness up to standard, my skills up to standard and my knowledge of the game up to standard. I still have a way to go, but hopefully by round I can get to my goal of being AFL ready.
“It’s all going really well. I’m just putting my head down and working hard. It was a massive jump but playing league footy last year with East Perth has definitely helped.
“It’s a step above that, but coaches are getting more information into us and the more we practice the more comfortable we get at that level.
“The learning side of things, getting to know the different structures and the coaches have different names for the different roles, but that’s going really well. Simmo (coach Adam Simpson) is making it easy for the new boys to learn it.”
That considered response provided an intriguing insight into a young man who recognises the challenges ahead in capitalising on the opportunities that are presented. Clearly in his mind getting drafted is merely the first step in the journey.
And through that response we see exactly why he is in the frame for a first-up opportunity. There was more.
“Round one would be amazing but we still have a way to go,” he elaborated. “I think there’s still about 40 days to go to round one, so it would be great to play in those pre-season games and see where I go from there.
“It has been awesome to have seven new draftees this year as well as the second year players and we have all been pushing each other to get better.
“We have drafted well in the last couple of years and got the numbers up so looking to the future we still have good depth in the older players and they’re showing us the ropes. Hopefully in a few years’ time when their careers are coming to an end we will be hitting our prime and we can take the club into our wings and take it to great places.”
Ginbey has been a sponge. Learning as much as possible, as quickly as he can, from premiership stars like captain Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed.
“Pre-season has been great,” he said. “We’re really in the thick of it now starting practice matches and that kind of thing and it’s really ramping up with the footy and game style.
“My natural instincts are as a defender, so midfield/defender is the role I’d like to play. They’re the two roles I have been training for.
“Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed have been great. Elliot is a similar body size to me and Dom is one of the smartest players so (I have been) trying to pick their brains and to try to improve.”
