Tara Murray
It was a good night for the Western Jets captains with Keighton Matofai-Forbes joining Lucca Grego on being drafted on Thursday.
Matofai-Forbes had to wait late in the draft to hear his name called out with Geelong picking him at pick 69.
He started his career with Burnside Heights before playing most of his junior football with Hillside.
Matofai-Forbes joined Keilor last season and has played 11 games for the club.
The Cats said he is a powerful player with great foot skills, a booming left foot and has leadership qualities.
Across seven games for the Western Jets in 2024, Matofai-Forbes kicked 11 goals and averaged close to 12 disposals per game in the Coates Talent League.
Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells said the club was happy with its picks in the draft, including Matofai-Forbes
“As each of our selections came, it presented us with a great opportunity to draft four different types of players that we thought would be a great fit for our football club,” he said.
“In the end we were able to pick four players who we think deserve an opportunity at AFL level, and we will get to work with right away to develop them and integrate them into our football program.”
Having experienced his joy of being drafted, Grego said it was pretty excited to see his co-captain here his name called out later that night.
“When I head his name, it was like I got drafted again,” he said.
“Keighton to be drafted out of the same team is so exciting. He has done so much work in the past three years and had an injury-riddled season this year.
“To see his hard work and dedication pay off, I was super happy for him and have a smile from ear to ear.”
