By Tara Murray
Calder Cannons Kyla Forbes is trying to not let the nerves creep in too much before the AFLW draft later this month.
Forbes is seen as the Cannons top product likely to be selected in the draft after a strong three years at club.
Forbes said it was all pretty exciting now.
“It is a nerve-wracking time,” she said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty around it but I’m excited as well.
“I’ve been training heaps the last few weeks to stay prepared if an opportunity comes up with an AFLW club.”
Forbes said to become an AFLW would be a dream come true having wanted it since she was a little girl.
Having gone through the pathways at Aberfeldie, Forbes has been part of the talent pathway system with the Cannons for three years.
“It has been a long journey,” she said. “I started at the Cannons three years ago and in two weeks I could be on an AFLW list.
“It’s crazy when I look back. I’ve made Vic Metro squads and played a lot of games for the Cannons. It’s pretty cool.”
Forbes said she had set herself some things to improve on this season and she had been able to achieve that.
After playing one game for Vic Metro at the national championships last season, Forbes featured in three this year.
Before the carnival, Forbes said she had been keen on playing more games this year and that the experience she already had would help.
“It was a pretty cool experience,” she said. “I loved playing with all the girls.
“It was definitely a step up and playing at a higher level. I really enjoyed it at that level.”
After the season Forbes was invited to the AFLW state combine. She was the only Cannons female player invited to the combines.
It was another experience that she really enjoyed.
Forbes spoke to several AFLW clubs during the process.
“I put a lot of hard work into it last month going into it,” she said. “I was pretty happy with how the results went.
“It was a little bit nerve-wracking [speaking with clubs], but it gets easier. It is really cool and something that you don’t expect.”
Forbes said she didn’t model her game on anybody, but felt she played a similar style of footy as Ellie McKenzie as a powerful athletic midfielder.
She said her focus was on getting drafted but would look to head to the Victorian Football League Women’s competition if that didn’t happen and try and get into the top competition that wy.
After a busy few months with exams and the combine, Forbes said she’ll take things slightly easier before the draft but would still be training.
The draft is being held on December 16.
