Isabella Ayre (born 9 December 1998) is an

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er who played for

Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

, and

Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington *Essendon, Victoria **Essendon railway station **Essendon Airport *Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League United King ...

in the

AFL Women's AFL Women's (AFLW) is Australia's national semi-professional Australian rules football league for female players. The first season of the league in February and March 2017 had eight teams; the league expanded to 10 teams in the 2019 season, 1 ...

(AFLW) competition. Ayre played state league football with Bendigo prior to the creation of the AFL Women's competition. Ayre was recruited by

with the number 51 pick in the

2016 AFL Women's draft The 2016 AFL Women's draft consisted of the various periods when the eight clubs in the AFL Women's AFL Women's (AFLW) is Australia's national semi-professional Australian rules football in Australia, Australian rules football league for w ...

. She made her debut in the Blues' inaugural game against at Princes Park on 3 February 2017. On 25 May 2017, Ayre was, along with

Nat Exon Natalie Exon (born 7 December 1992) is an Australian rules footballer playing for St Kilda Football Club (AFL Women's), St Kilda in the AFL Women's. Early life Exon was born in 1992. She was playing for the Darebin Falcons when she was drafted ...

, traded to

in a complex trade involving four teams, five players and a draft pick. She made her Lions debut in round 3 the following year, in a 22-point victory over her old side

Ikon Park Princes Park (or Carlton Recreation Ground, currently known by its sponsored name Ikon Park) is an Australian rules football ground located inside the wider Princes Park in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North. It is a historic venue, ...

. 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. In June 2022, after three years, Ayre returned to the game at AFLW level, joining expansion club

after playing for their VFLW side. She suffered from injuries during the season and did not make a senior appearance, and was delisted at the end of the season.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ayre, Bella 1998 births Living people Sportswomen from Victoria (Australia) Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia) Carlton Football Club (AFLW) players Brisbane Lions (AFLW) players Victorian Women's Football League players