Reuben Ginbey

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Reuben Ginbey

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Reuben Ginbey

| nickname = The Boy

| birth_date = 10 September 2004

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Dunsborough /East Perth/Wesley College

| draftpick = 9th overall, 2022 ({{AFL WC}})

| position = Defender/Midfielder

| currentclub = {{AFL WC}}

| guernsey = 7

| years1 = 2023–

| club1 = {{AFL WC}}

| games_goals1 = 45 (2)

| statsend = round 5, 2025

| repstatsend =

| careerhighlights =

AFL Rising Star nominee: 2023

| height = 191cm

| weight = 83kg

}}

Reuben Ginbey (born 10 September 2004) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Ginbey was recruited from East Perth (WAFL) with pick 9 in the 2022 National Draft. He made his AFL debut in round 1 of the 2023 AFL season. He earned a Rising Star nomination in round 3 of that season.

Early career

Originally from Dunsborough, Western Australia, Ginbey started his football career at the local Dunsborough Football Club.{{Cite news |date=2015-08-03 |title=Dunsborough midfielder kicks with precision |language=en-AU |work=Busselton Dunsborough Mail|publisher=Rural Press |url=https://www.busseltonmail.com.au/story/3253762/dunsborough-midfielder-kicks-with-precision/ |access-date=2023-05-03}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-15 |title=Dunsborough’s Ginbey to make AFL debut |url=https://www.swtimes.com.au/news/south-western-times/from-dunsborough-to-marvel-stadium-reuben-ginbey-to-make-afl-debut-for-west-coast-eagles-c-10046320 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=South Western Times |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Reilly |first=Eliza |date=18 December 2022 |title=Country boy ready to fly high after landing at Eagles |pages=56 |work=The West Australian |url=https://thewest2.smedia.com.au/Olive/APA/thewest-archives/SharedView.Article.aspx?parm=s6DmDjZOmErF69HjBUncR18ohBBB7crPvhKlUbkiaTfwWXUBj9PMtBXi6r3L%252BYABYw%253D%253D |access-date=2023-05-03}} Initially having a smaller build, he developed into a handy player. He later had a growth spurt as his body matured and went from a winger to a key position player. He was invited to the East Perth Colts program and his coaches put his name forward for the state under 18 team.{{cite web |last1=Schmook |first1=Nathan |title=From unknown to 'bona fide gun': The Fyfe-esque draft bolter's meteoric rise |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/864921/from-unknown-to-bona-fide-gun-the-fyfe-esque-draft-bolters-reuben-ginbey-meteroic-rise |website=afl.com.au |access-date=2 May 2023 |date=13 November 2022}} Ginbey made his WAFL senior debut in 2022, while still playing in the Public Schools Association competition with Wesley College.{{Cite news |last=McArdle |first=Jordan |date=30 April 2022 |title=Draft fancy to captain Wesley |pages=155 |work=The West Australian |url=https://thewest2.smedia.com.au/Olive/APA/thewest-archives/SharedView.Article.aspx?parm=s6DmDjZOmErF69HjBUncR5QwBh38iUVpjYsTuyOacyQ9wsB7iwKYoofsR3TTxhD4Yw%3D%3D |access-date=2023-05-03}}

AFL career

= 2023: Debut season =

Ginbey was selected with pick 9 in the 2022 national draft by the West Coast Eagles.{{cite web |last1=Reid |first1=Harrison |title=Young Eagles bull Reuben Ginbey completely disorientated after copping ‘nasty’ eye poke |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/young-eagles-bull-reuben-ginbey-completely-disorientated-after-copping-nasty-eye-poke-c-10360210 |website=7news.com.au |publisher=Seven West Media |access-date=2 May 2023 |date=16 April 2023}} He made his debut in round 1 of the 2023 AFL season during the Eagles narrow 5 point loss to {{AFL NM}} at Marvel Stadium, collecting 15 disposals and a game-high 12 tackles.{{cite news|title=Ginbey soaking up Eagles experience|url=https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1288210/ginbey-soaking-up-eagles-experience|work=westcoasteagles.com.au|date=21 March 2023| first=|last=}} He earned a AFL Rising Star nomination two weeks later in the round 3 Western Derby, collecting 20 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances and 13 contested possessions.{{cite web |title=Precious Reuben: Eagles' tackling machine earns Rising Star nom |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/896714/precious-reuben-ginbey-west-coast-eagles-tackling-machine-earns-afl-rising-star-nomination |website=afl.com.au |access-date=2 May 2023 |date=3 April 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Bourke |first1=Ed |title=West Coast midfielder Reuben Ginbey earns Rising Star nomination |url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/west-coast-midfielder-reuben-ginbey-earns-rising-star-nomination/news-story/9da9646c2d4e8d56fdbf24e7a7370b14 |website=news.com.au |publisher=News Corporation Australia |access-date=2 May 2023 |date=3 April 2023}} Although traditionally playing as a midfielder and on the wing, Ginbey later transitioned into the half-back line during the 2023 season. Unfortunately, Ginbey suffered a hamstring injury in round 18, and as a result he missed the rest of the season.{{cite news|title=2023 Yearbook: Lateral thinking rewarded|url=https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1479758/2023-yearbook-lateral-thinking-rewarded|work=westcoasteagles.com.au|date=31 December 2023| first=Gary|last=Stocks}} He finished his debut season having played 17 games. In December 2023, he took part in the West Coast Eagles community camp, which included a trip to his former primary school in Dunsborough.{{cite news|title=‘This is the fittest and strongest I’ve ever been’: Ginbey|url=https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/1474274/this-is-the-fittest-and-strongest-ive-ever-been-ginbey|work=westcoasteagles.com.au|date=5 December 2023| first=|last=}} His impressive debut season was acknowledged when he received the West Coast Eagles' Emerging Talent award for 2023. He signed on for another three years at the end of the season, to remain at the Eagles until 2027.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of Round 5 2025{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/R/Reuben_Ginbey.html|title=Reuben Ginbey|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=18 April 2025}}

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

|style="text-align:center"|2023

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}

| 7 || 17 || 1 || 2 || 86 || 147 || 233 || 25 || 101 || 0 || 0.1 || 5 || 8.6 || 13.7 || 1.4 || 5.9

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2024

|{{AFL Wce}}

| 7 || 23 || 1 || 3 || 174 || 187 || 361 || 62 || 83 || 0 || 0.1 || 7.5 || 8.1 || 15.7 || 2.7 || 3.6

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

|style="text-align:center"|2025

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL WC}}

| 7 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 46 || 20 || 66 || 19 || 15 || 0 || 0 || 9.2 || 4 || 13.2 || 3.8 || 3

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 45 !! 2 !! 5 !! 306 !! 354 !! 660 !! 106 !! 199 !! 0 !! 0.1 !! 6.8 !! 7.8 !! 14.6 !! 2.3 !! 4.4

Honours and achievements

AFL

AFL Rising Star nominee: 2023{{Cite news |last=Sweeney |first=Paddy |date=2023-04-05 |title=Reuben the Rebuilder: Why West Coast’s top draft pick is laying the foundation for their future |language=en |work=The Age |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/reuben-the-rebuilder-why-west-coast-s-top-draft-pick-is-laying-the-foundation-for-their-future-20230405-p5cyhp.html |access-date=2023-05-03}}