Dunsborough’s Reuben Ginbey free to feature in West Coast’s preseason game against North Melbourne in Bunbury

Dunsborough’s Reuben Ginbey is free to feature for a South West homecoming after the match review officer decided the West Coast defender had no case to answer after an incident with No.1 draftee Sam Lalor. Ginbey was facing a nervous wait after he was involved in a play which left Lalor with a broken jaw and in concussion protocols from the Eagles’ match simulation against Richmond last Monday. The defender pushed Lalor as they led up the ground, with Lalor colliding with Eagles defender Sandy Brock, who was going back with the flight to mark the ball. Lalor’s head collided with Brock’s hip and it resulted in Lalor going into concussion protocols and sustaining an undisplaced hairline fracture of his jaw which required surgery, putting the young Tiger in doubt for the start of their season. There were concerns that MRO Michael Christian would charge Ginbey with engaging in rough conduct for the incident. Ginbey, however, will be free to play for the Eagles when they take on the Kangaroos on Saturday after he was cleared. The first-round draftee has been one of the most impressive Eagles this pre-season as he looks to make a permanent move to defence after spending time in the midfield during his first 40 games. West Coast have finished 17th, last and 16th in the last three seasons but Ginbey — along with a pair of other young South West products in Harvey’s Brady Hough and Binningup’s Clay Hall — will be key figures as they look to push up the ladder this season. Add in the recruitment of Richmond premiership players Liam Baker and Jack Graham, as well as Carlton small forward Matt Owies, and the Eagles will look vastly different in 2025. Speaking at the AFL captain’s day on Monday, Eagles co-captain Liam Duggan said he would be confident in any of the youngsters pushing for a round one position when they take on North Melbourne in Bunbury. “I’d be confident in them all, to be honest within reason, in that they’ve been out there for us and got the minutes in,” he said. “I don’t know what they will go with (in round one), we’ve got another dress rehearsal this weekend which will be nice and more of that full-scale practice game and the full works which will be nice to go through that process. “There’s some boys like Bo Allan who has done really well and Jack Hutchinson has a full pre-season under his belt at the AFL level now and is doing some really good things for us. “I don’t think anyone will fall from the clouds for us but hopefully there’s some nice surprises in there for some of our young blokes.” The Kangaroos will likely have familiar faces in their ranks, with premiership spearhead Jack Darling a chance to take on his former side. “It will be interesting for sure, I was chatting to (North Melbourne captain) Jy Simpkin today and asking how Jack’s going and he’s apparently settled in really well and gelling with the boys over there,” Duggan said. “He is obviously a long-time friend and teammate of ours so it will be interesting all be it in a practice game, but it will be good to see JD and I hope he goes well, but doesn’t go too well on the weekend.” Speaking on SEN on Tuesday morning, Eagles football manager Gavin Bell said the Eagles would select a “strong team” for the Bunbury game that would largely reflect their projected line-up for their March 16 season opener against Gold Coast. “For us, it’s an opportunity to keep building on our chemistry within the playing group, the new coaching staff, and staff across the board,” he said. “How we continue to be best prepared for round one, that’s the focus . . . if there’s someone we view in our best 23 and they’re not quite ready for that game, then we won’t just roll them out for the sake of it. “This is a real opportunity for us to keep getting better and improve how we operate on game day, both on the field and off the field.” Bell said he anticipated superstar Harley Reid would feature in the game, having played three quarters of an internal practice game on Saturday after an injury-interrupted preseason.