23-07-2025
West Coast defender Rueben Ginbey on how Eagles plan to tame Fremantle's forward monsters
Young West Coast defender Reuben Ginbey is about to find out whether three-headed monsters really exist.
Fremantle triumvirate Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss and Jye Amiss are fast becoming a nightmare for opposition defences.
They can stop one. Maybe two. But all three? Unlikely. The trio have combined for 76 goals this season, making it one of the most potent attacking threats in the competition.
And it doesn't end there. Shai Bolton and Michael Frederick have also kicked 22 each, Murphy Reid 18 and Luke Jackson 14.
It was Voss's turn in the spotlight in Sunday's thrilling win over Collingwood at the MCG when he kicked six goals in his first game at the storied venue.
Ginbey's form against talls, mediums and smalls is one of the few positives in a season that has produced just one win, while Harry Edwards has been impressive in another key defensive post, his 15 intercept marks over the past two weeks the equal 11th most ever.
They, along with either Rhett Bazzo or Sandy Brock will be the Eagles called on to guard the three beasts in the 61st western derby at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
According to Champion Data, Ginbey's longest match-up in the round three clash between the two sides was a 36-minute duel with Treacy. The forward had just two disposals and was goalless in that period.
Ginbey also spent time on Voss, who kicked a goal from 12 possessions, on that afternoon.
'I've seen what he did this week, and he looks pretty good, he gets up and about and plays with a lot of excitement,' Ginbey said of Voss.
'What we love down back is playing against those exciting forwards. And obviously they have got their big three down there. I don't know which one I'll line up on yet, but definitely something to look forward to later in the week.'
Ginbey has been used successfully against a range of opponents of all shapes, sizes and threats this season.
He's kept Adelaide's Izak Rankine goalless, held Carlton's Charlie Curnow (in a half), Collingwood's Jamie Elliott and North Melbourne's Cameron Zurhaar to one goal and in round 12 restricted Geelong's Jeremy Cameron to one major by three quarter time before the floodgates opened.
Cameron finished with five, but fullback of the century Stephen Silvagni would have struggled to defend the Cats' forward entries in that final quarter.
'I play my better footy when I'm challenged about playing on those better forwards,' he said.
'I guess with Freo, they're probably more even, like they don't have that one superstar forward, it probably was (Josh) Treacy. But you know what Patty Voss can do, what Jye Amiss can do when he's up and about. So yeah, I love to get challenged every week and try to stand up to the challenge if I can,' he said.
'I'm loving it down in defence. We've seen a lot of growth in Harry Edwards.
'He's a real leader down there for us. Like he's played 50 games now, and he's been super strong, probably one of the best players of last month, and then we've still got the experience of Duggo (Liam Duggan) and Coley (Tom Cole) down there.
'The likes of Tom (McCarthy) coming in. He's been a great midseason (pick up), and we got Bo Allan, Tyrell Dewar all running through there.
'We've got a young group down there, and I guess I'm trying to build on my leadership and trying to get my game sorted first as well.'
The Eagles have let themselves down with poor individual quarters this season, often in the opening term, but against the Tigers, it was the third, when Richmond put 44 points on the scoreboard, mainly from defensive 50 chains.
It followed a competitive first half, inspired by Harley Reid, when the Eagles led disposals (177-171), inside 50s (26-21), clearances (18-16), contested possession (66-60) and uncontested possession (115-104), but still trailed on the scoreboard.
'That's not the footy we want to play, but I think there's a lot of positives in the first half as well,' he said.
'I think we just weren't able to capitalise on our dominance.
'Harls (Reid) started the game awesome in our midfield.
'And then, I guess the third quarter wasn't the footy we want to play, but it's not all doom and gloom. We reviewed that pretty strongly.
'A few things to work into our team defence and our contest as well. I think it goes back to the simple things of footy, just trying to turn the momentum.
'We're just trying to work on those small things, but it's definitely going to come.'
Ginbey won't take for granted playing in Saturday's derby after he grew up a Fremantle fan.
'Going down and watching some of my favourite players, like (Nat Fyfe) Fyfey and (Michael) Walters.
'I've won one derby so far. So definitely looking forward to doing that again, hopefully. But just love the atmosphere of them.'
