Reuben Ginbey is relishing being back on the track and has been buoyed by the energy and intent of West Coast’s young group in the opening week of pre-season.

The emerging defender has returned to training after a quad injury brought his 2026 campaign to an early end and limited his football across the latter stages of the season.

“I wasn't even able to get in the kicking lane for the back end of the year for the last 12 weeks, so just to have a kick out there with the boys has been great fun,” Ginbey said.

“I can't wait to get into a bit of contest stuff as well.”

The Eagles kicked off their pre-season with a challenging running test before getting into football work, with Ginbey impressed by how the young group returned.

“The energy's been super high,” Ginbey said.

“The way we're backing our coaches and just the fun we're having has been awesome as well.

“This pre-Christmas block is what we're really going after and it's going to be great to get the whole crew back in a couple of weeks.”

Ginbey highlighted No.1 draft pick Willem Duursma and fellow draftee Sam Allen among the young Eagles to impress over the off season, with Allen topping the running test following his knee rehabilitation.

“Sam's an absolute animal. He's built different, and he won our running test the other day, so that was great to see,” Ginbey said.

“Doing your knee in your first year is super tough, but his resilience through rehab is only going to benefit him in the future.”

The arrival of experienced recruits Jack Viney and Trent Rivers has also provided a boost, with Ginbey excited about what the pair can add to the developing group.

“Gaining the experience of Jack Viney and Trent Rivers is awesome as well,” Ginbey said.

“Viney's experience has been great. He's already shown his leadership in the last couple of days.”

Entering his fifth AFL season, Ginbey is also embracing greater responsibility within West Coast’s emerging core while continuing to develop his game in defence.

“I think in the first few years you're focusing on yourself a bit more and now it's that natural trajectory of helping other boys, but also working on my own game as well,” Ginbey said.

“My ability to develop from more of a lockdown player to interceptor as well, so I’ll continue to develop that, as well as the leadership and helping set up the other boys around me.”

With a strong pre-Christmas block ahead, Ginbey has plenty of belief in the Eagles’ developing group and what they can achieve.

“I'm super optimistic about this group,” Ginbey said.

“Watching the finals footy while we're in the off season just gets you envious and that's where we want to be.

“We're chasing finals footy. That's why you play footy, to be playing in September.”