Taken with pick 1 in the 2012 draft, Whitfield was moved to an unfamiliar half-back role in 2018 and responded with his first All-Australian blazer and the Kevin Sheedy Medal. He shared the club champion award with Nick Haynes in 2020 to become the first Giant to win it twice, then led the AFL for disposals in a second All-Australian season in 2024. He has played 278 AFL games and kicked 72 goals.