Herald Sun
Isabel Huntington is very good at keeping secrets.
The AFLW’s No.1 draft pick was shocked when there was a knock at the door on Tuesday night and Western Bulldogs coach Paul Groves was standing there.
He delivered the good news that the Bulldogs would be taking the 18-year-old rising star with the first pick.
The Bulldogs were the big winners of draft day securing blue chip players Huntington and WNBL Melbourne Boomers point guard Monique Conti.
Conti will bolster the Dogs midfield alongside fellow Whitten Oval draftee, impressive VFLW onballer Jenna Bruton.
- Eliza Sewell
Fox Sports
You are looking at the 2017 draft winners, ladies and gentlemen! Isabel Huntington can play anywhere and will add some size and polish to the Western Bulldogs’ forward line, alongside captain Katie Brennan. She’s also a future leader.
Meanwhile, Monique Conti is a ball magnet who’ll complement Ellie Blackburn and Emma Kearney in the midfield. Conti plays for Melbourne Boomers and moves with time and space. As for Jenna Bruton? The 22-year-old beat Brianna Davey in the St Kilda Sharks’ best and fairest. Enough said. Daria Bannister and Emma Mackie will rotate through the midfield and forward line.
-Sarah Olle
The Age
Isabel Huntington heard a knock at the front door on Tuesday night. She wasn't expecting to see what she did when she opened it. There stood Western Bulldogs coach Paul Groves, list manager Michael Sandry and director of football Chris Grant. Oh, and some cameras.
They were there to let the key forward know she'd be selected first in Wednesday's AFLW draft.
"I wasn't expecting that. It was an interesting way to find out but very exciting," Huntington said, after things became official on Wednesday afternoon.
While aware of the status that comes with being a No.1 pick, Huntington said she'd have been happy to get picked at any number.
"It doesn't really matter when you get into the club whether you're No.1 or 100, but I'm pretty honoured that they think of me that highly and I'm just excited to get started.
- Daniel Cherny
AFL Media
THE PRIZE of this year's NAB AFL Women's Draft discovered on Tuesday night she was going to be crowned the No.1 female prospect in the land.
The 18-year-old key forward, who is versatile enough to play down back and through the midfield, headlined the draft class for the second AFLW season.
Huntington overcame breaking her right leg in 2015 and tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee last year to reach this point, and has declared herself ready to go for pre-season.
"It's a massive honour. I would have been happy to go anywhere, any pick," she told reporters.
"It doesn't really matter when you get into the club, whether you're one or 100, but I'm pretty honoured they think of me that highly and I'm just excited to get started."
- Marc McGowan
