Isabella Ayre (born 9 December 1998) is an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton, Brisbane, and Essendon in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition.

Bella Ayre
Personal information
Full name Isabella Ayre
Nickname(s) Bella
Date of birth (1998-12-09) 9 December 1998 (age 25)[1]
Original team(s) Bendigo (VWFL)[1]
Draft No. 51, 2016 AFL Women's draft
Debut Round 1, 2017, Carlton vs. Collingwood, at Princes Park
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017 Carlton 06 (4)
2018–2019 Brisbane 06 (0)
S7 (2022) Essendon 00 (0)
Total 12 (4)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the S7 (2022) season.
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Ayre played state league football with Bendigo prior to the creation of the AFL Women's competition.[1]

Ayre was recruited by Carlton with the number 51 pick in the 2016 AFL Women's draft. She made her debut in the Blues' inaugural game against Collingwood at Princes Park on 3 February 2017.[3]

On 25 May 2017, Ayre was, along with Nat Exon, traded to Brisbane in a complex trade involving four teams, five players and a draft pick.[4]

She made her Lions debut in round 3 the following year, in a 22-point victory over her old side Carlton at Ikon Park.[5] Ayre was unable to play a single game in 2019 due to injury, and announced her retirement on the eve of the Grand Final to pursue a career as a police officer.[6]

In June 2022, after three years, Ayre returned to the game at AFLW level, joining expansion club Essendon after playing for their VFLW side.[7] She suffered from injuries during the season and did not make a senior appearance, and was delisted at the end of the season.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "2017 INAUGURAL WOMEN'S TEAM". Carlton Football Club. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  2. ^ "ISABELLLA AYRE". Australian Football. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  3. ^ Elliott, Josh (5 February 2017). "Carlton Blues vs Collingwood Magpies: AFL Women's live scores, blog". The Roar. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Lion turns Blue as complex deal seals trade". afl.com.au. Telstra Media. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  5. ^ Pountney, Tom (17 February 2018). "Match report: Lions win to stay in AFLW hunt". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  6. ^ "AFLW: Bella Ayre retires". www.lions.com.au. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Three VFLW Dons earn AFLW spots". Essendon. Telstra Media. 1 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Bombers Make AFLW List Changes". Essendon. Telstra. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.

External links edit