Ginbey has been a rare shining light of West Coast's wooden spoon campaign, with the 20-year-old often tasked with taking on the opposition's best key forward.
Despite giving up size and height almost every game, Ginbey has more than held his own all year, curbing the influence of players including Charlie Curnow, Josh Treacy and Riley Thilthorpe.
On Sunday, Ginbey held Thilthorpe goalless for two-and-a-half quarters before the Adelaide key forward kicked three second-half majors to help Adelaide seal a nine-point win.
The way Ginbey has held up under a barrage of inside-50 entries has been exemplary, and he has also provided important rebound from defence.
But it wasn't enough to even squeeze into the extended 40-man squad of the best players under the age of 22 released by the AFLPA last week.
Montagna, who notched 287 games for St Kilda during his decorated playing career, is the chair of selectors for the 22Under22 squad, with support from the AFLPA and Champion Data.
He is also a former teammate of McQualter, with the pair playing together at the Saints, including in the drawn 2010 grand final with Collingwood and the replay loss.
"It was extraordinary he wasn't in that under 22 team," McQualter said of Ginbey's snub.
"People aren't watching closely enough if he's not in that team. Reubes isn't driven by awards. That's not why he plays the game.
"He may have been disappointed. I didn't actually ask him, but I just don't think they're watching closely enough for some of the things Reuben's done this year.
"But we love him on our team. He is just an unbelievable competitor."
It's not only Ginbey's impressive form that has caught the eye of McQualter."His flowing locks when he takes off - it's an impressive set of hair," McQualter joked.Thilthorpe stands 11cm taller than Ginbey, but the West Coast defender didn't hesitate when told he would be manning the star Crows forward."Reubes didn't even flinch," McQualter said.
"He's like, 'Yep, no worries', and he prepared himself really well."
Fans will decide the final 22Under22 team, with voting closing on Wednesday and the final team announced on August 20.
West Coast (1-20) have won just one game all season, and they will start as rank underdogs in Sunday's clash with the Western Bulldogs (13-8) at Marvel Stadium.
