Reuben Ginbey injury: West Coast Eagles star avoids surgery on quad injury
There’s promising news for Reuben Ginbey following scans on his injured quad. Get the update here!
West Coast star Reuben Ginbey has avoided the worst-case scenario from the quad injury he suffered against Port Adelaide on Saturday night.
On Monday afternoon, the Eagles confirmed the All Australian candidate will not require surgery after he limped from the field midway through the third quarter of his side’s eventual six-point loss to the Power.
His timeline for a potential return to the field remains unclear and he is still set to be sidelined for several weeks, but the club are planning for him to return to the field before the end of the season.
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West Coast’s high performance manager Phil Merriman said the development represented a “positive outcome” for the 21-year-old.
“He will now commence his rehabilitation program, with a clearer timeframe for his return to play expected as his recovery progresses,” Merriman said.
The 21-year-old got scans on Sunday and consulted a surgeon on Monday.
Ginbey went down in the third term of last weekend’s loss to Port Adelaide, with the defender pulling up lame as he chased Mitch Georgiades into his defensive goal square.
The fourth-year Eagle was consoled by teammates as he immediately came off the ground and went into the rooms.
“It certainly made me a little bit sad, as I imagine it did for all our Eagles supporters,” coach Andrew McQualter said post-game.
“He’s a warrior. He’ll be fine. Whatever it is, he’ll work hard. That’s what he does, it’s in his DNA. He’ll work hard, he’ll be back. He’ll be bigger and stronger.”
West Coast now face a headache with replacing the important backman, with fellow key tall Harry Edwards also sidelined due to concussion issues.
The devastating injury blow came just days after Ginbey signed a three-year contract extension with the Eagles, tying him to the club until the end of 2030.
Ginbey has been among the AFL’s very best defenders since being shifted down back midway through the 2024 season.
The Dunsborough product, who often gives up considerable size to his opponents at 191cm tall, has earned plaudits for his competitiveness and defensive craft.
He has beaten some of the AFL’s leading key forwards, including two-time Coleman medallist Jeremy Cameron and Power star Georgiades, in individual match-ups over the course of his career.
Ginbey’s first AFL season in 2023 was brought to an early end by a hamstring injury but he has played 58 games in a row since, featuring in all 23 contests of his side’s 2024 and 2025 campaigns and their first 12 of 2026.
After producing a best-afield display in West Coast’s win over Essendon in round 12, McQualter pushed his candidacy for a spot in the 40-player All Australian side.
“There’s some good players, but I just think Reuben absolutely is one of the best key defenders in the game,” McQualter said.
