ALL AUSTRALIAN defender Jess Duffin will miss North Melbourne's 2020 NAB AFLW season through pregnancy.

Duffin announced her exciting news via her Instagram account on Tuesday morning, along with husband Chris, and is due in July.

FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game

"2019 was full of exciting adventures and plenty of wonderful memories," Duffin said.

"July 2020 is going to be even more special, when our very own baby girl is due."

The 30-year-old Duffin is also a highly talented cricketer, captaining WBBL side Melbourne Renegades, and was in the Australian selectors' sights for the upcoming Women's Twenty20 World Cup.

North Melbourne has said it will lodge an application with the AFL for "special consideration" to replace Duffin for the season, given lists only contain 30 players.

FOLLOW THE LEADER Your club's 2020 captain and leadership group

The only other player to have sat out a season due to pregnancy is Melbourne superstar Daisy Pearce.

Daisy Pearce is back in training for 2020 after giving birth to twins. Picture: AFL Photos

Midfielder Pearce announced her pregnancy in August 2018, before the cut-off date of lodging inactive players (end of October), and was replaced within two weeks by Casey Sherriff, from the club's VFLW side Casey Demons.

North Melbourne kicks off its AFLW season on February 8, coincidentally against Melbourne at Casey Fields.