A champion of the game, GIANTS star Isabel Huntington has called time on her decorated career.
A former top-draft pick, All-Australian and AFLW Rising Star, Huntington announced to the playing group on Wednesday that Sunday’s match against the Suns would be her final AFLW game, following a 60* match playing career defined by resilience, fortitude and an indelible off-field legacy that has reshaped the game for all.
The number one draft pick of 2017, Huntington commenced her career with the Western Bulldogs, originally taken as a key forward with sturdy hands and unrivalled aerial combativeness.
Debuting in the first round of the 2018 season, Huntington lived up to expectations, showcasing football IQ beyond her years, but her debut season was cut cruelly short when she suffered a second ACL injury in just her second game of AFLW.
A subsequent sprain to her reconstructed knee meant she also missed the majority of the following 2019 season, before enjoying an undisrupted breakout campaign in 2020.
Switching from the Bulldogs forward line to a key defensive role, Huntington’s read on the play, intercept timing and contest work saw her named the 2020 AFLW Rising Star, receive an All-Australian blazer and be named the Bulldogs best and fairest player of the season.
Huntington suffered a devastating third ACL injury in the second match of the 2022 (S6) season. Deciding on a fresh start for her rehabilitation, she requested a trade to the GIANTS at the conclusion of 2022’s first season.
Known equally for her fierce intelligence as well as footy IQ, Huntington was also elected to the AFLPA board, where she has been a key figure in the negotiations of the historic 2023-2027 collective bargaining agreement, which saw AFLW and AFL men's players represented in the same deal for the first time.
Through her playing and rehabilitation, Huntington has also graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science in Human Structure & Function.
Playing her first game in orange and charcoal in 2023, Huntington has been a much-loved part of the GIANTS lineup over the past five seasons, playing in 40 games at AFLW level with the club, while enshrining her impact away from the field through her work with the AFLPA and Football for Climate.
Sea-sawing between attack and defence, Huntington has found a home in the GIANTS' forward line over the past two seasons, kicking eight goals so far in 2026.
Executive General Manager of AFLW and Football Operations Alison Zell expressed her sincere congratulations and admiration for Huntington, following her announcement on Wednesday.
“Izzy's career has been defined by her talent on field and unwavering resilience off it, and she is a much-adored part of both our team and club,” Zell said.
“We are so fortunate to have had Izzy with us for the past five seasons, and while injury has restricted her through that time, her impact with us extends beyond the games she has played.
“Izzy is an ambassador of our sport, and the league is richer for the work she has done in developing the standards and leadership of AFLW.
“While she will be sorely missed here at the GIANTS, we have no doubt she will continue to champion the league from its sidelines, and we will always be part of our club family.
“I congratulate her on an incredible career and am ever-grateful for her contribution to our club and the game.”
Huntington will run out for her final game alongside teammate and personal hero Alicia Eva against the Suns at Henson Park at 12:35pm on Sunday, November 1.
