At this time last year, the name Patrick McGinnity was big news in the AFL.

It wasn't for a spectacular mark or a string of standout performances, but rather for the broken jaw he copped after being on the receiving end of a bruising bump from Collingwood's Nick Maxwell.

Maxwell was initially suspended but controversially later cleared on appeal, while McGinnity was consigned to a lengthy stint on the sidelines nursing the injury.

McGinnity's 2010 pre-season has had a much happier storyline, the nuggety utility starring in West Coast's 39-point practice match win over Carlton last Saturday.

The 21-year-old, who made his debut in round 15 last year and went on to play seven games, more than held his own in a run-with role against Chris Judd and also provided a tough physical presence around the clinches.

Eagles coach John Worsfold said he had been impressed by McGinnity's progress over the summer and hinted the youngster was on track to squeeze into the club's midfield brigade for the season ahead.

"Last year we didn't really know what he was going to be able to offer and he showed a fair bit to us," Worsfold said.

"You would expect that another pre-season under his belt he's developed a fair bit.

"(Midfield coach) Scott Burns has been really impressed with what he's been doing and it's given us some good things to look at in terms of our best midfield going forward.

"(As well as a run-with role) he's also shown he can really work hard and find the ball.

"He's shown us he's going to keep developing into a good player."

McGinnity said he had moulded his game on team-mate and fellow hard nut Beau Waters.

"Growing up I was always a massive fan of Beau and now that I'm starting to play a few games with him it's awesome and I definitely look at his game and try to mould my own on his," McGinnity said.

"If I've got to go in (hard at the ball) I've got to go in.

"I'm working pretty hard.

"I'm trying to take my game to the next level, I'll see what comes."

McGinnity said he treated the tagging role against Judd as a learning experience.

"It was a big challenge, I'm just happy the coaches had the trust in me to give me a role like that," he said.

"I pretty much spent the game just learning from him because he's the best in the business.

"I had fun and learnt a lot, just in terms of how hard he runs and what you have to do to be an elite midfielder of the AFL."

The Eagles round out their pre-season with a match against Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday.

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