Forbes was a successful player for Essendon in the years leading up to the formation of the VFL in the 1890s. A high marking ruckman, he was a member of the side which won four successive premierships from 1891 and 1894.
Forbes was named Player of the Season in 1892 by The Argus.
When he made his VFL debut in 1897 he was already 32 and played in their premiership team that year. He also played in the 1898 VFL Grand Final, the first ever, but Essendon lost to Fitzroy.
... lost two defenders, ElliotForbes and ScottBarrow, to injury ... Quakers were forced into an early sub when Forbes, who had picked up an early knock, came off and was replaced by loanee CharlieStirland.
