[2] Fort was nevertheless overlooked at the 2012 draft (a snub the Geelong Advertiser called "inexplicable")[3] and entered a stint in the Victorian Football League (VFL) with Werribee.

Fort played eleven matches and kicked eight goals over the next two years,[4] then switched to South Australian National Football League club Central District ahead of the 2016 season.

[4] Fox Sports claimed he "might be the best mature-age ruck prospect in Australia" after he averaged 31.5 hitouts for Central District in 2018;[5] journalist Callum Twomey also highlighted Fort as a possible selection in the 2018 AFL draft.

Fort began his time with Geelong competing with Abbott, Rhys Stanley and Zac Smith for the ruckman position.

[1] The proliferation of ruckmen led to him spending more time as a key forward in Geelong's VFL reserves, where he kicked eight goals in four matches and displayed strong marking ability while rucking alongside Abbott.