AFLW superstar Erin Phillips adds brekkie radio role to the mix

A familiar face is set to team up with Mix brekkie host Mark Soderstrom permanently as the station finalises its search for Jodie Oddy’s replacement.

Crows star Erin Phillips will join Mark Soderstrom as MIX102.3 breakfast radio

The biggest secret in Adelaide radio is out of the bag – Erin Phillips is the mystery new star joining Mix102.3’s brekkie team.

The AFLW superstar will team up with Mark Soderstrom to host the show from January.

As tipped by The Advertiser, Phillips was the hot favourite to take over from Jodie Oddy, who quit last month after 13 years in the role.

“It’s a bit surreal,” Phillips said. “I’m really, really excited and nervous, and very grateful for the opportunity.”

The 35-year-old, mum-of-three filled in for Oddy earlier this year, so has already had a taste of the early mornings and demands of the high-pressure job.

Erin Phillips with wife Tracy Gahan and children Brooklyn 4, Drew 16 months and Blake 4 at home. Picture: Matt Turner

“It does sometimes feel like you’ve got jet lag all day,” Phillips said, laughing. “But the kids get up anywhere from 5.30am so it’s only an hour and a half earlier than that.

“But yes I’ll be leaving all of the morning duties to (wife) Tracy (Gahan). She’s been really supportive and she’s a machine. The fact that we live straight across the road from my parents does help as well. ”

The Crows co-captain is also gearing up for the 2021 AFLW season which starts on January 28.

“So there’ll be football, family and radio – it’s big balancing act,’ Phillips said. “I got a really good taste of it for three months in January, and I was still rehabbing my knee then. At least now I don’t have my injury so that will free up some time.”

She couldn’t quite confirm if 2021 will be her last season of footy, but said she’d been pondering what would be next once she hung up her boots.

“It was only when I did those three months in January that I found something that I really loved outside of my family and sport,” Phillips shared.

“Everyone used to say I’d go into a coaching or administrative role, but nothing really lit a flame. When you're live on air and under pressure and the adrenaline kicks in, it’s as close as you can get to sport.”

Erin Phillips training for the Adelaide Crows women’s team. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Erin Phillips will team up with Mark “Soda” Soderstrom in January. Picture: Supplied

Phillips is especially looking forward to having fun with “big brother” Soda, and continuing Mix’s reputation of helping out South Australians.

Soda jokes the pair are quite similar in palming off all the hard work to their respective wives and taking all the glory.

“The biggest difference between us is the fact that she’s an unbelievably accomplished international athlete and I was a very ordinary failed footballer,” he says.

“But seriously, I am super excited to welcome Erin to our Mix breakfast team.

“There is much more to this down-to-earth mum than just snapping goals and sinking three pointers, I know our friends of the show will welcome Erin’s enthusiasm and cheekiness.

It’s been and up and down year for Mix in the ratings but the breakfast show closed out the year at No. 1 on the FM dial, sharing the spot with Triple M’s Mark Ricciuto and Chris Dittmar. Both stations recorded 10.6 share points.

Triple M had an increase of 1.1 while Mix was down 1.9. Mix is still Adelaide’s No. 1 station with 11.7, down 1.7 from the previous survey.