Erin Phillips reveals why she decided to not let a second ACL tear end her AFLW career
Erin Phillips could have gone out at the very top but she has revealed why she wasn’t letting a new ACL injury end her AFLW career.
AFLW
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Erin Phillips on her long road to recovery
- How to make the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Erin Phillips could have gone out at the very top.
Lying stricken on the Adelaide Oval turf in front of over 53,000, the Adelaide Crows star was just minutes away from her second AFLW Premiership and best on ground in a grand final award.
Days later, on crutches with a second ACL tear diagnosed, Phillips claimed her second AFLW best and fairest awards in three years cementing her as the most dominant player in the short history of the AFLW competition.
So why did the 34-year-old, who in July welcomed her third child – son Drew – with wife Tracy, decide to put herself again through the laborious and challenging knee reconstruction rehab having done so in his previous career as a basketballer.
The answer according to Phillips, now back running with the Crows side and hoping to be able to play in round one, was simple – she just loves playing footy.
“I never thought about retiring through the rehab (process), there were some doubts … but I didn’t feel like I was completely done playing,” she said.
“I’ve loved playing footy from the moment I could walk and talk.
“I still love being an athlete.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
“And there’s a few more premierships to win, dad (Port Adelaide legend Greg Phillips) reminds me he has eight so there’s a few more to catch him.
“I’ve always loved the game and that was the ultimate reason to go back through this rehab again.”
While round one is the goal, Phillips said if there was any doubt in her body then she would look to make her return later on in the season.
Phillips spent the off-season in Dallas at the Michael Johnson Performance Centre, working with rehab experts.
It was late-night in Dallas where she found out that the “ACL club” among the Crows AFLW side had a new member, when fellow co-captain Chelsea Randall went down on the first day of pre-season.
“Chelsea is always positive and it (the text) said “hey mate just to let you know that I’ve hurt my knee at training, but don’t worry I don’t think it is anything serious,” she said.
“My initial gut feeling was that I know how Chelsea is, she is so positive, so I had an empty feeling but I wrote back saying I was not panicking.
“But the next day she got the confirmation … I was just shattered for her, so close to the start of the season.”
In better new for the Crows Rhiannon Metcalfe and Chloe Scheer are recovering well from their respective ACL tears.
The prevalence of knee injuries in the AFLW has prompted leading sports doctor Peter Larkins to urge the league to do more research around reducing the high number.
Phillips said the spate wasn’t because of a lack of effort to prevent it.
“If there was an answer or a magic formula we would be here doing it,” she said.
“We’ve done a lot more screening in pre-season … sometimes it is just bad luck.
“I did my first ACL playing basketball it happens in all sports.