The Western Bulldogs have snared Western Jets utility Isabelle Pritchard with selection 16 in the NAB AFL Women’s Draft. 

The 18-year-old, who was a member of the NAB AFLW Academy in 2020, can play across all three lines, with strong overhead marking a feature of her game.

Pritchard is considered to have tremendous upside, given she predominantly played netball growing up and is a relative newcomer to AFL.

In three games before the postponement of the 2020 season, Pritchard averaged an impressive 22 disposals and seven tackles per game for the Jets in the NAB League.

In 2019, the 178cm prospect represented Vic Metro, a team which was coached by current Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke before he arrived at VU Whitten Oval.

“Issy is a strong, versatile footballer who has proven her ability to play down back and in the midfield over the last couple of years,” said Bulldogs’ AFLW Head of List Management & Recruiting, Mick Sandry.

“Her ability to read the ball in the air is elite, and she is a strong overhead mark.

“She is an outstanding character, and is an extremely hard worker.  She is hard at the football, and has a never-say-die attitude.”

AFL Media journalist and Draft expert Sarah Black describes Pritchard as “a key defender with the capability to push higher up the ground.”

“Pritchard isn't the most experienced player but has improved at a rapid rate.  Pritchard is a strong mark overhead and relishes one-on-one contests.  She's tough and tenacious and reads the ball well in the air.”