Renee Forth was out of the game for so long the GWS marquee forgot what it was like to play
YOU know you’ve been out of the game for a long time when you can’t remember how to play. That’s how Giants AFLW marquee Renee Forth has felt for the last 18 months.
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GWS Giants AFLW marquee player Renee Forth was out of the game for so long the gun midfielder forgot what it was like to play.
Forth has spent the last 18 months recovering from a nasty knee injury which robbed the 30-year-old of the chance to lead the Giants in the inaugural AFLW season.
Saturday morning the protracted wait will finally be over when the West Australian recruit lines up with the Giants for the first time in a practice match against last year’s grand finalists the Brisbane Lions at Tom Wills Oval.
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“Before I started my training I had forgotten what it’s like to play,” Forth said.
“There were times throughout my rehab when I couldn’t remember what it felt like. Part of me was asking what am I doing my rehab for? I went and watched a game of footy to see what it was like.”
To miss the entire historic first season of AFLW was a huge blow for Forth but it wasn’t the lost opportunity to strut her stuff on the national stage that bothered her the most.
“I’m not dwelling on the fact I was recruited as a marquee player,” Forth said.
“I wasn’t picked just on footy ability I was picked for my leadership as well. All last year I wanted to make a contribution off the field as well.
“I want to match it with everyone else. I don’t expect to go out there and showcase what I’ve got. I want that team feeling back when you go out as a team and you’re fighting a battle together.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to the most, when you ride the ups and downs it feels great.”
The Giants took out the wooden spoon last year but were very competitive in all but two of their seven games.
Forth believes under new coach Alan McConnell they have already made significant improvement. McConnell is the first and only player in AFLW to have coached at a senior level in the AFL.
“The best thing we’ve got going for us this year is Al,” Forth said.
“He has us all pointing in the right direction. He’s coached at the AFL level before. For him to be coaching in the AFLW is massive for us and it will be a long time before opposition clubs can match that. We’ve improved a lot on last year. We’ve picked up some good players and our team balance has improved. Last year we had more small forwards than you could point a stick at. If we cop a few injuries we are in a better position to cover for them.”