Patience finally pays off as Fort picked up to bolster Geelong ruck

DARCY Fort not only arrived in the AFL yesterday, he arrived home.

Six years after first being overlooked in the 2012 draft, the former South Barwon ruckman had his footy dream realised when he was snapped up by the Cats at pick 65 in the national draft.

Fort took a punt on his footy future when he made the move from Geelong to SANFL club Central Districts in 2016 after VFL stints at Werribee and Footscray.

In three dominant seasons, the 205cm big man rose to become one of the SANFL’s leading ruckmen.

Now 25 and having filled out his frame, he will vie for a ruck spot alongside the likes of Rhys Stanley, Zac Smith, Esava Ratugolea and Ryan Abbott as the Cats continue to search for the ideal ruck set-up — a task that has provided many headaches for Geelong in recent years.

“I’m absolutely elated,” Fort said.

“Moving home to play for the Cats and to be back with my family is just incredible.

“It’s hard when you’re 18-19 years old and seeing guys you’ve played with all the way through get picked up and you’re not.

“I finally feel like I’ve arrived and I’m ready to give the AFL a good crack.”

With his family back in Geelong and his Central teammates at work, Fort watched the draft at home by himself and took some quiet moments to let it sink in. But that night he was off to training at the Dogs to have one last run and say goodbye to his mates.

“I can’t thank Central enough, I’ve been so lucky to play for the club,” Fort said.

“I think the last three years have been the best footy I’ve played and a big part of that is because of (coach) Roy Laird and (chief executive) Kris Grant.”

Geelong Falcons talent manager Michael Turner was thrilled for Fort’s opportunity.

“Tommy Stewart, who’s now an All-Australia, played for us a number of years ago and was probably a little bit immature,” he said.

“But Darcy Fort played a full season with us and was a really good player.

“AFL clubs were probably more inclined to go and get mature ruckmen because if you take a ruckman or key position player, it takes three or four years for them to work into it. He’s been able to go away and do that.”