Mid West AFLW premiership player Renee Forth switches into defence at Woodville-West Torrens in SANFLW

Mid West local and AFLW premiership player Renee Forth says a new position at her South Australian club is helping her develop her game in the SANFLW. Forth said while the shift to defence from attack was a challenge, there was a new energy around the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles and she was keen to help keep it going. “We are much better this season,” Forth said. “I have slowly gotten better. “I’m feeling a little more confident week-on-week. “I’m playing down back, so it’s a great challenge to learn how to move and play defensively. “It’s (about) working for the team and before this year, finals would never have been in our vocabulary but this year has the potential to be different.” Forth said but for a few opportunities that went begging, the club could have two wins from three instead of the two losses and one win they have racked up. But talk of a fresh outlook is not unwarranted. In three matches this season the side has kicked almost half the number of points they had all season in 2021 — 101 compared with 205. Forth’s contributions have increasingly stood out each week. She had credible stats to begin with, and has only raised her game as the season has gone on. She had 11 disposals, eight kicks, four marks, five tackles, a clearance and a couple of inside 50s as the Eagles went down 2.8 (20) 7.8 (50) against Sturt in round one in February. By round two the numbers improved further as she racked up 17 disposals against West Adelaide Bloods, as well as four marks and four tackles. She also moved the ball out of defence and was generally handy, getting four rebound 50s and winning three free kicks. The Eagles won 9.6 (60) to 4.3 (27). Last Friday underlined how much she has got into her stride. The Eagles narrowly lost, going down 2.9 (21) to 4.5 (29) to Norwood Redlegs, but despite the pain on the scoresheet Forth led her side in disposals with 23. She also had six tackles, two inside 50s, three rebound 50s and a game-high three marks, and was comfortably best afield for her team. A Buller River local, Forth won the AFLW grand final with the Adelaide Crows in 2019, after a stint at Greater Western Sydney. The Eagles play Glenelg Tigers at Hisense Stadium on Saturday in round four.