Bella Ayre

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2017}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Bella Ayre

| nickname = Bella

| image =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|12|09|df=y}}{{cite web|title=2017 INAUGURAL WOMEN'S TEAM|url=http://www.carltonfc.com.au/womensteam/players|publisher=Carlton Football Club|access-date=7 June 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170606231505/http://www.carltonfc.com.au/womensteam/players|archive-date=6 June 2017|url-status=dead}}

| fullname = Isabella Ayre

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Bendigo (VWFL)

| draftpick = No. 51, 2016 AFL Women's draft

| debutdate = Round 1, 2017

| debutteam = {{AFLW|Car}}

| debutopponent = {{AFLW|Col}}

| debutstadium = Princes Park

| height = 176 cm{{cite web|title=ISABELLLA AYRE|url=http://australianfootball.com/players/player/Isabella%2BAyre/19831|website=Australian Football|access-date=7 June 2017}}

| weight =

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| guernsey =

| years1 = 2017

| club1 = {{AFLW|Car}}

| games_goals1 = {{0}}6 (4)

| years2 = 2018–2019

| club2 = {{AFLW|Bri}}

| games_goals2 = {{0}}6 (0)

| years3 = 2022 (S7)

| club3 = {{AFLW|Ess}}

| games_goals3 = {{0}}0 (0)

| games_goalstotal = 12 (4)

| statsend = 2022 season 7

| careerhighlights =

}}

Isabella Ayre (born 9 December 1998) is an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton, Brisbane, and Essendon in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition.

Ayre played state league football with Bendigo prior to the creation of the AFL Women's competition.

Ayre was recruited by Carlton with the number 51 pick in the 2016 AFL Women's draft. She made her debut in the Blues' inaugural game against {{AFLW|Col}} at Princes Park on 3 February 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/02/03/carlton-blues-vs-collingwood-magpies-afl-womens-live-scores-blog/|title=Carlton Blues vs Collingwood Magpies: AFL Women's live scores, blog|publisher=The Roar|date=5 February 2017|access-date=7 June 2017|last=Elliott|first=Josh}}

On 25 May 2017, Ayre was, along with Nat Exon, traded to Brisbane in a complex trade involving four teams, five players and a draft pick.{{cite web|title=Lion turns Blue as complex deal seals trade|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-25/lion-turns-blue-as-complex-deal-seals-trade|website=afl.com.au|publisher=Telstra Media|access-date=7 June 2017|date=25 May 2017}}

She made her Lions debut in round 3 the following year, in a 22-point victory over her old side Carlton at Ikon Park.{{cite news|last1=Pountney|first1=Tom|title=Match report: Lions win to stay in AFLW hunt|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-17/match-report-lions-win-to-stay-in-aflw-hunt|access-date=18 February 2018|work=AFL Media|publisher=Telstra Media|date=17 February 2018}} 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.{{cite web |title=AFLW: Bella Ayre retires |url=https://www.lions.com.au/news/2019-03-29/ayre-retires |website=www.lions.com.au |date=29 March 2019 |access-date=30 March 2019}}

In June 2022, after three years, Ayre returned to the game at AFLW level, joining expansion club Essendon after playing for their VFLW side.{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1140490/three-vflw-dons-earn-aflw-spots|title=Three VFLW Dons earn AFLW spots|publisher=Telstra Media|work=Essendon|date=1 June 2022}} She suffered from injuries during the season and did not make a senior appearance, and was delisted at the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1244545/bombers-make-aflw-list-changes|title=Bombers Make AFLW List Changes|publisher=Telstra|work={{AFL Ess}}|date=4 November 2022|access-date=12 November 2022}}