Three-time ACL rupture sufferer Isabel Huntington using experience to inspire A-League footballers

AFLW player Isabel Huntington didn’t have any three-time ACL rupture players to look up to during her rehab – but the rising star is now inspiration to a growing number of A-Leagues players.

Pain, surgeries, gruelling rehab process and extreme strain on your mental health – AFLW player Isabel Huntington says the impact of an ACL rupture doesn’t get any less after the second or third time.

Huntington, 24, has torn her ACL three times in the space of six years. She is part of a growing club of elite women athletes who have had triple ACL injuries.

Joining the club this year alongside the AFLW player is Matildas fringe player Holly McNamara – who tore her ACL for the third time playing in the A-Leagues just days after being called into the national squad.

Sydney FC midfielder Taylor Ray is back in the A-Leagues this season after her third rupture.

Huntington said thoughts of giving up the game started to creep into her head during her second rehab stint and grew louder during her most recent injury.

“There are certainly periods where you think you’re not going to be able to get back or at the very least get back to the level that you were playing at, it’s a pretty dark and lonely time throughout those periods,” she said.

“Particularly the third one, not as many people have come back from three successfully so you have less and less inspiration in terms of athletes that have successfully done it.

“It’s also about how much the body can tolerate, it’s obviously straining, it’s really hard and mentally challenging, the impact on your life is massive.

“So there were doubts. But it’s a pretty proud moment when you get to run out there again, with your fingers crossed it will be sweet from here on out.”

Leading knee surgeon Dr Chris Vertullo said research had proven the female anatomy made women five to eight times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than men.

Sport specific programs have been formed with the aim of reducing the risk of an ACL injury but Huntington said the part-time nature of elite women’s sport made it unrealistic.

“You don’t get the time to have a good look at your body or for individual tailoring and access to sports medicine that can break down your individual risk and things you need to work on,” Huntington said.

Isabel Huntington after rupturing her ACL for the third time in 2022. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“It’s pretty much a one size fits all when you have such little time.

“There are certainly intrinsic factors that we have to roll with but when you look at the research so much of it’s just been done primarily on male subjects over the years and all of the studies we are referencing in terms of preventive things, even your rehab itself and risk factors are based on male athletes.

“Studies take time but I think we need to invest hard in terms of research and getting to the bottom of it and finding some answers.

“It’s a stressful thing trying to balance work, study and professional sport – but the more professional we get and more money we put into research hopefully we’ll have a few more answers.”

The Bulldog turned Greater Western Sydney player tore her ACL for the first time when she was 17-years-old.

“My first one was in 2016, then I got back and in my second game back I did my other knee,” Huntington said.

“It was a few years between my second and my third, which I did (January 2022).”

She needed an extended time off to recover from the third tear – taking 20 months, instead of the usual 10-12 months.

Huntington said despite her experience and knowledge of the rehab process it didn’t get any easier.

Isabel Huntington playing for the Giants in 2023. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“I think I was trying to be pretty stoic about it when I did my first one at 17, as we all would be,” Huntington said.

“I have had a lot more breakdowns and ups and downs mentally with it in my more recent ones. But I’ve learned that’s okay, it’s normal and I’ve had people to lean on for support in those moments which has been massive.”

Huntington said there were several elements that impacted her mental health during her rehab process.

“You go through waves, that FOMO (fear of missing out) element is huge,” she said.

“At the start you sort of get all of the support and everyone’s getting around you and sending lovely messages which is obviously really heartwarming but then it dries up pretty quickly and that’s when it gets tough.

“I found personally the late stages of rehab the hardest because you’ve been doing the same thing for 12 months in the gym and it’s so repetitive and you feel so close yet so far as well and you’ve got all those issues with ‘can I be the player that I was before?’

“And you’re asking yourself those questions.

“So that’s probably been the most difficult part for me.”

Huntington made her triumphant return to the field in September, after delaying several times for a niggle and her confidence to return.

The 24-year-old is looking forward to a full pre-season and season with the Giants next year.

Originally published as Three-time ACL rupture sufferer Isabel Huntington using experience to inspire A-League footballers