It was renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns who penned the line that ‘the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.’

So often, over time, that has proven the case and so it was for the West Coast Eagles in 2023.

That optimism that a year of resurgence loomed did not materialise and that could be put down to a number of factors, including the availability (or lack of it) of senior players.

One part of the blueprint for the Eagles did go to plan, albeit for a couple of unwelcome glitches. The club drafted some high calibre talent into the program, making the bold decision to split pick #2 in exchange for two selections a little further down the National Draft order.

Lateral thinking was rewarded when the club landed East Perth midfielder Reuben Ginbey and exciting Swan Districts youngster Elijah Hewett with what became selections #9 and #14 after a couple of father-son and academy selections affected the ballot.

Both would have a significant impact in their debut seasons and provide a ray of sunshine – along with several other teenage recruits – in a year that was more than a little challenging.

While phase one of the plan played out nicely, implementation of the next chapter provided a few speed bumps.

In the early part of match simulation in pre-season training it seemed Ginbey was being groomed to work closely in tandem with captain Luke Shuey, the pair oscillating between half-back and midfield.      

Unfortunately that strategy did not play out as desired with Shuey, in what would be the last season of a glorious career, playing just 10 games with the rookie and skipper completing just five games together.

Shuey had a range of injury concerns while Ginbey’s exceptional debut season was derailed in round 18 against Richmond when he was upended after disposing of the ball in the opening term and suffered a hamstring injury that ultimately sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Still, he did more than enough to join a list of illustrious players to have won the Emerging Talent Award – an honour that has been afforded to players like Chris Judd, Matt Priddis, Daniel Kerr, Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass and Oscar Allen.

He spent considerably more minutes in the midfield than he did at half-back but thrived in the cauldron at the highest level. He showed an appetite for the contested ball and would have been in AFL Rising Star calculations had he not missed the last six games.

Indicative of the young talent in the Eagles squad was that Ginbey, Hewett and Jai Culley, before being cut down by a serious knee injury, all received Rising Star nominations.

Ginbey, from East Perth via Dunsborough, was one of only six players to feature each week – along with Oscar Allen, Jayden Hunt, Andrew Gaff and Bailey Williams – before that unusual hamstring injury that saw his leg involuntarily snap back towards his shoulder after kicking the ball.

He is keen to be involved in the club’s renaissance, evidenced by him agreeing to a contract extension before his season had even been completed.

“I signed on for another three years at the club and I couldn’t be more excited. I have just loved my first year here,” Ginbey said after inking a deal that ensures he’s at the club until the end of 2027.

“As soon as I came into the door with six other first year players you become best mates. And to be led by senior players like Bunga (Shannon Hurn) and Boots (Shuey), who unfortunately are leaving, was amazing. It is now time for the younger boys to drive the club forward and it has just been an awesome year.

“It was disappointing doing my hammy in round 18 but it was an honour to play 17 games. If someone had told me at the start of the year I would play 17 games I would have said they were dreaming.

“The hammy is feeling really good and I can’t wait for next season.”

The connection between the first and second year players is obvious to everyone internally and they are all keen to put their shoulder to the wheel to assist the club’s build and ambition to rise steadily up the ladder.  

“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,” he said – with mid-season draftee Ryan Maric joining the army of youth.

“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.”