Former-SMJFL players Abbie McKay and Izzy Huntington have been recognised in the first round of selection for the 2021 AFL Players’ Association22under22 squad.
The fan-voted squad recognises the blossoming young talent in the league, with qualifying players falling under the age of 22 and having played five games throughout the season.
McKay (20, midfield) made her first entry this year, and Huntington (22, forward) entered the list for her second and final time.
Abbie McKay
McKay made history as the first father-daughter selection in the AFLW with her father, Andrew, a former Premiership player for Carlton in 1995.
Like father like daughter, Abbie pulled on the number 5 guernsey to make her debut in 2019 against Geelong in Round 4.
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After struggling to break into the senior squad in 2020, McKay returned ready to roar in 2021, nabbing herself a Rising Star nomination against St Kilda with 17 disposals and 7 tackles.
Prior to her senior career, Abbie played with Prahran JFC for five seasons and 67 games.
Izzy Huntington
Izzy also made history as the first of the SMJFL’s AFLW stars, having been drafted by the Western Bulldogs with the first overall selection in the 2017 AFL Women’s draft.
Izzy debuted against Fremantle in 2018 and has come into her own as a footy powerhouse come 2021.
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The reigning 2020 Rising Star spent her junior career with East Sandringham JFC and South Melbourne Districts FC, spanning 36 and 39 games respectively.
Huntington took out the Best & Fairest award in the Grand Final of her premiere season with the Zebras in 2008, in addition to the SMJFL Best and Fairest award in 2011.
Congratulations to Abbie and Izzy from all of us at the SMJFL.
Full squad:
Defenders
Natalie Grider, Brisbane, Jordyn Allen, Collingwood, Lauren Butler, Collingwood, Emma O’Driscoll, Fremantle, Denby Taylor, Geelong Cats, Rebecca Webster, Geelong Cats, Maddison Levi, Gold Coast Suns, Georgia Garnett, GWS Giants, Tahlia Randall, North Melbourne, Claudia Whitfort, St Kilda, Eleanor Brown, Western Bulldogs
Midfielders
Isabel Dawes, Brisbane, Courtney Hodder, Brisbane, Grace Egan, Carlton, Georgia Gee, Carlton, Madison Prespakis, Carlton, Lucy McEvoy, Carlton, Abbie McKay, Carlton, Mikala Cann, Collingwood, Olivia Purcell, Geelong, Alyce Parker, GWS Giants, Monique Conti, Richmond, Ellie McKenzie, Richmond, Georgia Patrikios, St Kilda, Tyanna Smith, St Kilda, Tarni White, St Kilda, Mikayla Bowen, West Coast Eagles
Ruck
Lauren Bella, Gold Coast Suns, Eden Zanker, Melbourne
Forwards
Danielle Ponter, Adelaide, Chloe Scheer, Adelaide, Dakota Davidson, Brisbane, Chloe Molloy, Collingwood, Sabreena Duffy, Fremantle, Tyla Hanks, Melbourne, Daisy Bateman, North Melbourne, Isabella Lewis, West Coast Eagles, Jess Fitzgerald, Western Bulldogs, Isabel Huntington, Western Bulldogs, Katie Lynch, Western Bulldogs
