AFLW captains predict another stellar season for Crows star Erin Phillips

She was the standout player in the first AFLW season before injuries cruelled her second — now the league’s captains believe Crows star Erin Phillips is ready to fire again.

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The 10 AFLW captains have predicted inaugural league best and fairest Erin Phillips will be the competition’s leading goal kicker and the Crows will make the grand final.

The captains — with Adelaide represented by Phillips’ co-captain Chelsea Randall — gave their tips anonymously for who would be dominant this season in the lead-up to the competition launch in Melbourne this week.

And it seemed the Crows would be in for another breakout season.

They won the most nominations with alongside new team North Melbourne to make the grand final with three votes and Phillips received four votes to be the leading AFLW goal kicker, two more than Geelong’s Phoebe Williams.

Erin Phillips is hoping for an injury free 2019 AFLW season. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Williams was also second in the tips for the competition best and fairest — the award she won in the inaugural season — behind the Western Bulldogs’ Ellie Blackburn. Blackburn received four votes, Phillips two and Randall one.

Collingwood’s Ash Brazill, 29, who made her name as a national league netballer, was tipped to be the best player from another sport.

No. 1 draft pick Nina Morrison from Geelong was expected to be win the rising star award.

SURVEY RESULTS

(Captains polled — Adelaide Crows, Chelsea Randall; Brisbane Lions, Leah Kaslar; Carlton — Bri Davey; Collingwood — Steph Chiocci Fremantle — Kara Donnellan; Geelong Cats — Melissa Hickey; GWS Giants — Amanda Farrugia; Melbourne — Elise O’Dea; North Melbourne — Emma Kearney; Western Bulldogs — Ellie Blackburn):

Which other team apart from your own is most likely to reach the grand final?

3 — Adelaide Crows

3 — North Melbourne

2 — GWS Giants

1 — Brisbane Lions

1 — Melbourne

Who will win the competition best and fairest?

4 — Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs)

2 — Erin Phillips (Adelaide Crows)

1 — Courtney Gum (GWS Giants)

1 — Chelsea Randall (Adelaide Crows)

1 — Elise O’Dea (Melbourne)

1 — Karen Paxman (Melbourne)

Who will kick the most goals in the competition?

4 — Erin Phillips (Adelaide Crows)

2 — Phoebe McWilliams (Geelong Cats)

2 — Katie Brennan (Western Bulldogs)

1 — Darcy Vescio (Carlton)

1 — Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne)

Who will win the NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star?

4 — Nina Morrison (Geelong Cats)

3 — Maddison Prespakis (Carlton)

1 — Tyla Hanks (Melbourne)

1 — Alyce Parker (GWS Giants)

1 — Jordan Allen (Collingwood)

Who will be the best player from another sport?

4 — Ash Brazill (Collingwood)

2 — Yvonne Bonner (GWS Giants)

1 — Shae Sloane (Melbourne)

1 — Chloe Dalton (Carlton)

1 — Sarah Rowe (Collingwood)

1 — Erin Phillips (Adelaide Crows)