Isabel Huntington has officially landed at GWS from the Western Bulldogs in exchange for picks 29 and 37.
The 2017 number one draft pick makes the move to New South Wales on a two-year deal which is a tremendous show of faith in Huntington who is currently recovering from her third ACL injury with the injury since entering AFLW with the other injuries occurring in 2018 and 2019.
The 23-year-old starred in 2020 when she won the Bulldogs Best and Fairest, the AFLW Rising Star Award and was selected in the All-Australian team.
GIANTS Head of Women’s Football Briana Harvey welcomed Izzy to the club.
“We’re really excited to welcome Izzy to the GIANTS for the next two seasons,” said Harvey.
“Izzy is a versatile player and brings not only great talent but great leadership through her experience in the game.
“She’s coming off an ACL injury but her rehabilitation is going really well and she’ll be in good hands with our medical staff here to ensure she returns to the track as soon as possible.
“She’s excited to continue her career with us and her commitment is a great endorsement for our club and for our people.”
While willing to facilitate a deal with the giants, Bulldogs’ Head of List Management and Recruiting, Mick Sandry indicated that due to draft pick limitations, the club didn't believe it was properly compensated.
“In an expansion year, the top 13 national picks are locked from trade which presented a difficult scenario to find a suitable trade for someone like Izzy, who we hold in such high regard,” Sandry said.
“However, after some movement of picks and other trades, we were able to secure two picks from the Giants which has helped deliver us a really strong draft hand.”
The Bulldogs managed to ease the blow of losing Huntington by securing Millie Brown from Geelong.
Sandry said that the club was pleased to welcome Brown back to football after she sat out season six of the competition.
“Millie is a highly talented footballer who we are really excited to add to our list,” Sandry, said.
“She has played most of her recent football as a defender – having been named an U18 All Australian - but also has the ability to go forward, so we think her versatility will be a huge asset.
“She is a great reader of the play, attacks the ball in the air and is really composed under pressure.”
