West Coast young gun Reuben Ginbey says he is ready to step up and be the Eagles’ midfield bull in the absence of injured star Elliot Yeo.
Ginbey, 19, who spent time playing more of an outside role on the wing earlier in the season said he was ready to embrace the physical pressure in the heart of the engine room against Collingwood on Sunday.
“I’ve played quite a few games of AFL footy now and I’m getting more used to the role of inside midfielder, so I can lift a bit more weight for the team in upcoming rounds if Yeoy misses a few weeks,” he said.
“I’m trying to develop different sides of my game, last year was a lot of crash and bash tackle inside contested kind of work, going out to the wing allows me to use my tank and my run and carry a bit more.”
Ginbey said he was looking forward to potentially going toe-to-toe with Magpies star Nick Daicos.
“He’s one of the best young players going around and I love the way he plays, their midfield is pretty star studded and all of them are going to be really cool to play on,” he said.
With spearhead Jack Waterman sidelined with concussion, young forward Jack Williams is expected to get an opportunity to build on his career high three goals against Essendon.
Ginbey heaped praise on the 20-year-old who he said was giving the team a strong target in attack.
“He’s a big lad and still a young guy learning to use his body, on the weekend the grabs he took up forward were really promising and he snagged a goal late to keep us in the game,” he said.
Ryan Maric will also return after his late withdrawal due to illness to bolster the forward line.
Ginbey also defended the engine and effort of team mate Harley Reid, who has been questioned after leaving the field due to cramp with minutes remaining in the Eagles six-point loss to Essendon.
“There’s not many first year players who have ever done it like Harley,” Ginbey said.
“The way he attacks the footy – he loves the contest more than anyone . . . I think for people on the outside judging him and his fitness don’t really know what its like to be an inside midfielder especially as a first year player.
“His fitness and training standards are elite and he’s probably one of the most physical players as a first year player already, he is outstanding.”