Amidst the high expectations surrounding West Coast Eagles’ top draft picks, an emerging young talent has captured the attention of the team’s defensive stalwart. While much of the pre-season focus has been on number one selections Willem Duursma and Harley Reid, along with promising big man Cooper Duff-Tytler, it’s second-year forward Jobe Shanahan who has generated significant buzz within the club.
Defender Reuben Ginbey, coming off a career-best season himself, has spent the summer matched against Shanahan and predicts the young forward will cause substantial problems for opposition defenders this season. ‘I played on a lot of those boys this pre-season and Jobe has got super sticky mitts—he marks everything,’ Ginbey revealed. ‘He’s a bit of a quiet kid but he’s building nicely and it helps with Jake Waterman down there, but he’s probably our next main man down there now.’
The Eagles are attempting to rebuild from a historically difficult 2025 season that saw them finish at the bottom of the ladder with just one win—extending their dismal record to just 11 victories across their past 95 games. Shanahan made his debut against Collingwood last year and immediately impacted the scoreboard, finishing his first season with 12 goals from nine appearances, including an impressive five shots on goal (3.2) in the final round against Sydney.
While Reid has assembled his most consistent AFL pre-season to date and Duursma has formed a strong on-and-off-field bond with his fellow number one pick, it’s Shanahan’s development that has teammates most excited. The athletic forward is expected to line up alongside Reid and Duursma when the Eagles face Gold Coast Suns in their season opener in two weeks.
Ginbey noted the positive dynamic between the high-profile recruits while emphasizing that top draft picks naturally push each other to higher performance levels. ‘The two boys are getting on pretty well,’ Ginbey said with a laugh. ‘In terms of how they’re playing their footy, I’ve been super impressed with Duurs. He’s rangy, tall, he’s got such a good step and the way he reads the game. Harls as well is looking as fit as he ever has and is primed for a big year.’