There's a gun in the pocket

AFLQ can claim an Olympic bronze medallist. Shooter Annemarie Forder is still firing off shots, but instead of using an air pistol she's relying on a deadly drop punt. The 23-year-old, who contested the 10m air pistol in Sydney, is chancing her shooting arm with the Burleigh Bombers in AFL Queensland's local women's league.

"Dad is Victorian so I grew up following Essendon, but it was another girl who shoots (fellow Olympian Natasha Lonsdale) who talked me into playing." Forder said. "Mum was a bit freaked out with me playing and keeps yelling out from the sidelines to watch my fingers, but I'm enjoying AFL as a form of crosstraining."

Despite her Bombers background, Forder admits to being a Brisbane supporter - even during the dark old days at Carrara. And coming from a family of eight children, Forder is used to competition and team sports.

A controversial national championship campaign also prompted the move to Australian rules. At the Australian Shooting Championships at Easter, Forder was a shock disqualification.

"Apparently my gun didn't meet specifications. It's the same gun I used at the Olympics but for some reason it wasn't passed," she said. "I was in quite a temper about it but my coach told me to settle down as any controversy would look bad on me." Despite the minor set back, the Gold Coast student is still looking at competing at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, next year and then continuing on to Athens.

In preparation for the Commonwealth Games, Forder is off to England for a tournament in August. Until then she's looking forward to running out with the Bombers. "I've been playing in the forward pocket but so far I've only hit the post." Forder laughed. "And it's also a nice change to play a team sport instead of competing by, and against, yourself. "

It's great to get out there and have a run around and since the Olympics I've realised it's that fitness look which attracts sponsorship so I've been hitting the gym trying to get fit. "Sponsorship is so hard to come by that I want to do everything I can to better my chances.

"Being a post-Olympic year it's really my only chance to try something else. I was nervous at first but now we all know the game better and it's good there are shorter halves for women!"