Career
A small goalkicking rover, he stood at 171 cm and he was twice runner-up in the, 1930(joint)and 1935. He captained Essendon for four years.1934, then from 1935 -1937. (he stepped aside for Jack Baggot to captain/coach in 1936.
Forbes went on to also be the first EFC player to kick both 300and 400 goals.
In 1938 and 1939 he was the captain-coach of North Melbourne. Forbes was inducted into the Essendon Football Club"s Hall of Fame in 2011.
His average of goals per game during his 10 years at the Bombers (273) ranks him in the top 3 goal kicking rovers in VFL/American Federation of Labor-Congress history.