Her smile says it all.
483 days after being announced as one of the GIANTS’ marquee players for the inaugural AFL Women’s season, Renee Forth finally got to train with her teammates for the first time on Monday night.
Forth and fellow West Australian Emma Swanson were the club’s first two signings back in July 2016.
Just weeks later, Forth suffered a torn ACL, medial collateral ligament and lateral meniscus, landing her on the sidelines for the historic first AFLW season.
But over 16 months later Forth was out running around with her GIANTS teammates in the orange and charcoal on Tom Wills Oval for the first time.
“I was a little bit anxious leading into it,” she admitted.
“We had our 2km (time trial) to start but to be honest I wasn’t too worried about that, I think I was just more anxious about the unknown of a training session because there was part of me that’s forgotten what it’s like to play and train.
“As soon as we started, you couldn’t tell me I haven’t played in ages or trained in ages, I got straight back into it.”
Forth’s time away from the game wasn’t wasted, with the experienced midfielder attending every game and training session and diligently completing her rehab program.
But she still feels like a new recruit now the countdown to the 2018 season has begun.
“I know that I was here last year but it still didn’t make any difference to that main training group because I hadn’t been there so it was a bit of the unknown,” Forth said.
“It’s a completely different season this year, right from the start I want to be known as a player. I’m here to play.”
After pulling up “pretty good”, Forth is ready to go for her next training session on Wednesday night but will remain in the non-contact group for the next couple of weeks.
“They’ve still got me in non-contact for a little bit and it’s probably for a good reason.
“When I start training I just get lost in it and just go full bore so they need to hold me back for a little bit and just make sure that the other girls know but it will only be a little bit like that.”
There’s few who were closer to an AFLW team without playing a game last season so it will be a welcome sight when Forth finally runs out in the orange and charcoal jumper for the first time.
But for now she’s just adopting the classic footballer’s mindset and taking it day-by-day.
“I just want to get better and better everyday and get more comfortable, to pick up the speed and my reaction time and everything like that.”
And as for where she’ll play? We’ll that’s up to new Head Coach Alan McConnell.
“I’m unsure about that, I played midfield and rested up forward back home but it all just depends on what the team’s like here and where Al wants me to slot in so I’ll play wherever he needs me.”
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