Geraldton-reared RENEE FORTH played a key role in the Adelaide Crows’ premiership in the AFLW. She writes of her feelings and about facts most people wouldn’t know about her.

It hit me during our celebrations on the Monday when I thought of the 53,000-strong crowd at the grand final a day earlier.

There were 25,000-30,000 in Geraldton when I grew up there.

I played a game of footy in front of a crowd twice the size of Geraldton when I was young. Wow.

Mum and Dad (Roberta and Darrell) were there. So were my uncle and aunty, Shain and Elise.

The folks came into the rooms, and they all celebrated with the team that night.

West Coast Eagles star Josh Kennedy is my footy mentor.

Josh and I attended Nagle Catholic College together and had been friends.

About four or five years ago, I rang and asked if he would offer me advice and guidance on footy matters, on and off the field.

He advises me on leadership and I contacted him in the lead-up to last Sunday’s grand final and he gave me some very helpful tips.

I look forward to seeing him in Perth shortly.

I started life on a horseriding farm at Buller River (between Geraldton and Northampton) before we moved to Geraldton.

I lived there until I was 19 and went to Perth.

I lived there for about 10 years before being picked up as a marquee player with the Giants.

Four weeks later I did an ACL playing for the Coastal Titans in Perth.

I still moved to Sydney but missed the first year as I did rehabilitation.

My second season — first year playing — wasn’t the best.

Adelaide must have seen something in me, maybe in exhibition games live or on tapes, and I signed with the Crows.

Before starting with them, I spent six months in Darwin playing for the NT Thunder in the VFL.

Then it was off to Adelaide and it’s been great.

In less than a fortnight I am returning to Perth for six months — coming back to Geraldton for four days over Easter.

I am 32 and a qualified electrician, but haven’t worked on the tools since I moved away from Perth.

In Darwin, I worked for an electrical wholesaler.

I will probably work for them again in Perth.