Getting the nod for a dream round one debut was the “best thing ever” for Reuben Ginbey, and the young gun can’t wait to experience a West Coast Eagles home game with blue and gold fans in full voice at Optus Stadium this Sunday.
Blessed with a mature head on his shoulders, the 18-year-old has handled the expectation attached to being a high pick with aplomb since arriving at West Coast via selection No.9 in last year’s draft.
To nobody’s surprise, Ginbey put his best foot forward on debut against North Melbourne, laying a game-high 12 tackles and picking up 15 disposals, with his family of five and host family ‘mum’ watching on at Marvel Stadium.
“It was the best thing ever really to find out the news on Tuesday that I was debuting with three other boys for the club – and also Noah Long and Campbell Chesser for their first games,” Ginbey said.
“The whole experience, flying over Thursday, then getting to Captains Run at Punt Road and my family five coming over with my host mum, it was great to have that support there and it was just a really good experience.
“To be able to play in front of the home fans at Optus would be great.
“It’s something that I’ve been really looking forward to since I was drafted here because obviously West Coast has got a huge fan base that really back us, so it will be great to play in front of them for the first time.”
Ginbey built his way into the North Melbourne clash, leaning on the likes of Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed and Tim Kelly as he picked up the tempo of the elite level.
The 191cm bull only moved into the midfield midway through his draft year, but has the athletic traits, competitive instinct and smarts to excel in the engine room.
“I’m learning quickly and being able to learn off the experienced mids we have is really great. Finding my feet there and slowly building my confidence,” Ginbey said.
“Still got a bit of room to improve there but I think I’m definitely finding my feet and doing some good things around the contest and as an outside midfielder.
“I love that role. As a taller, bigger-bodied midfielder is definitely where I see myself playing my footy.
“In terms of the tackles, I think they gave me a few cheapies. I was just doing my thing wherever I could, just hunting the footy, and ended up getting 12.
“I was happy with that.”
While it has been a whirlwind few months for the Dunsborough product, Ginbey’s appetite for hard work – plus the bond he has built with the other six draftees – has helped him hit the ground running.
“It’s been a great experience ever since I stepped foot in the doors. I can’t wait to keep playing here for a long time,” he said.
“We have a really tight group (of draftees). Obviously I knew Elijah (Hewett), Tyrell (Dewar) and Jordy (Baker) because they’re WA boys but also Harry (Barnett) from Adelaide and the two Victorian boys (Noah Long and Coby Burgiel) … we’ve all become really close mates.
“We’re all building bonds that can hopefully last for a long time as well.”
