As far as mentors go, Reuben Ginbey has discovered a kindred spirit in former Eagle Brad Sheppard.
The pair first crossed paths at Wesley College, the place the retired Eagle was recruited as an assistant coach this 12 months.
And the duo caught up once more simply two days earlier than Ginbey left for Melbourne, shortly earlier than he adopted within the defender’s footsteps as a prime ten decide for the AFL powerhouse.
Sheppard has had tickets on the Dunsborough product for many of the season, taking a front-row seat to Ginbey’s improvement as he rocketed up draft boards.
Now, Sheppard’s former membership is ready to study why amid a push from the All-Australian for the Eagles at hand Ginbey his former quantity 5 guernsey.
“He’s been a mentor of mine,” Ginbey instructed The West Australian shortly after being drafted with decide 9.
“I had a coffee with him two days ago and he said I’d hopefully get to the club he used to play for.
“He’s been great for me this year. We’re a pretty similar size and shape and I was more of a backman at the start of this year which was great for my footy.
“Then I pushed into the midfield and he was really supportive of that and whenever I needed a tip or a bit of advice, he was there for me.”
Ginbey’s meteoric rise has shocked most however none extra so than himself, bolting from an unknown expertise to a first-round draft decide within the house of 12 months.
“For little kids, it’s always a childhood dream to play professional sport and for me that was AFL,” he stated.
“I didn’t know how realistic it was but for me the catalyst was to moving to Perth and making the summer squad.
“It was probably halfway through the year it became more of a reality.
“Probably eight months ago I had the first AFL club talk to me and it all ramped up from there. I’ve enjoyed the whole experience.”
The 18-year-old backed the Eagles to bounce again after a disappointing season and declared his pleasure to work with WA teammate Elijah Hewett in establishing West Coast’s future midfield.
“Over the club’s long history, they’ve been really successful. They probably didn’t have their best year last year but that happens in teams,” he stated.
“They’re on the rebuild so it will be great to get in a lot of new young players who can all build and grow together but also learn off some of the senior players.”
With decide one, Greater Western Sydney opted to not bid on Brisbane father-son gun Will Ashcroft, as an alternative handing GWV Rebels product Aaron Cadman the coveted honour of being the primary picked.
The Jeremy Cameron-like key ahead spent his bottom-age 12 months on the wing earlier than reworking himself into one of many nation’s finest younger spearheads.
“Never in a million years did I think I’d be in this position,” Cadman stated.
“I can’t wait to get cracking.”
North Melbourne had been subsequent on the clock and bid on Ashcroft, guaranteeing Brisbane paid virtually the utmost worth for the son of three-time premiership Lion Marcus.
Widely thought-about the most effective participant within the draft after successful the Larke medal, Ashcroft dedicated his future to Brisbane in August.
“I’ve known for a little while but it’s still a surreal moment,” he stated.
“There’s a lot of work to be done. It all resets now.”
With back-to-back alternatives at three and 4, North Melbourne drafted ahead Harry Sheezel and midfielder George Wardlaw.
It was a bitter candy second for Sheezel after the Sandringham Dragons star was topic to anti-Semitic social media feedback focusing on his Jewish heritage within the draft lead up.
Essendon rounded out the highest 5, drafting Vic Metro midfielder Elijah Tsatas after earlier entertaining a dwell commerce for his or her coveted quantity 4 decide.
