McGinnity, West Coast open contract talks
Patrick McGinnity appears likely to stay an Eagle and is in contract talks with West Coast.
The 25-year-old delivered a strong performance in last Saturday week's 12-point win over Brisbane at the Gabba.
McGinnity applied a team-high eight tackles playing as a defensive forward to go with 12 disposals and a goal.
It was his third successive appearance for the Eagles since earning a recall for the western derby at the end of June.
The 75-gamer snapped a goal in West Coast's late charge against Fremantle on return. His grunt and impact in the final quarter breathed life into his disappointing season.
The West Australian understands McGinnity's hardness around the contest in recent weeks has impressed West Coast's coaching hierarchy at a time when Adam Simpson is carrying out a thorough assessment of his list. The 2008 pre-season draft pick's career was on the line this year - his sixth season at the club after being recruited via Marist and Claremont.
McGinnity played 21 matches in 2012 to emerge as a consistent member of the Eagles line-up.
But injury problems last year and this year receiving a one-game ban for elbowing Fremantle's Danyle Pearce during a pre-season match made it tough for him to win back a permanent spot in the Eagles team.
Simpson last month described McGinnity as an "honest" contributor.
"He plays that way as well," Simpson said.
"What you see is what you get. He'll give us a bit of grunt and a bit of tenacity."
