Isabel Huntington has overcome a horror run of injuries to be chosen by the Western Bulldogs as the No.1 pick in the AFL Women's draft.
A gifted athlete who can play in multiple positions, Melbourne University product Huntington had been widely rated as the best all-round player in the draft pool.
Fremantle picked Swan Districts midfielder Stephanie Cain at No.2, while Collingwood selected Chloe Molloy with pick No.3.
The 18-year-old Huntington broke her right leg in 2015 and tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee the following year.
But the Bulldogs believe she has enormous potential to help them improve after a patchy inaugural season.
Huntington, who hopes to study medicine at university and will undergo her VCE exams in coming weeks, is confident she can make an impact despite her injury history.
"When I did the knee, it was pretty devastating," she said.
"There are a lot of women that have come back from ACLs ... seeing them and their pathway and the way that they've succeeded is definitely motivating and inspirational for me.
"We'll see what the Doggies want to do in terms of a gradual start or getting me straight into things but it's almost at 100 per cent, which is great."
Huntington will link up with WNBL player Monique Conti, snared by the Bulldogs with pick No.4.
The Melbourne Boomers' guard last month signed a four-year contract extension, having been flooded with offers to play college basketball in the United States.
Conti was one of several elite athletes from other codes to be picked up in the draft for the second AFLW season.
Ashleigh Brazill, playing for Collingwood in the Super Netball competition, was drafted by the Magpies, while Melbourne snared WNBL player Tegan Cunningham.
Reigning premiers Adelaide took Jessica Allan at No.8.
FIRST ROUND OF THE 2017 AFLW DRAFT:
1. Isabel Huntington (Western Bulldogs)
2. Stephanie Cain (Fremantle)
3. Chloe Molloy (Collingwood)
4. Monique Conti (Bulldogs)
5. Jodie Hicks (Greater Western Sydney)
6. Eden Zanker (Melbourne)
7. Jordan Zanchetta (Brisbane)
8. Jessica Allan (Adelaide)
