Erin Phillips’ thigh a cause for concern for Adelaide Crows ahead of AFLW blockbuster against Melbourne Demons

ERIN Phillips’ injured thigh remains a cause for concern for the Adelaide Crows ahead of AFLW blockbuster against Melbourne Demons.

Chelsea Randall. Picture: Sarah Reed

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ADELAIDE is in the dark as to the status of its best player, Erin Phillips, as it prepares for the crucial battle against a confident Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday.

Phillips pulled out of the 12-point loss to Brisbane in the grand final rematch at Norwood Oval on Saturday after emerging from training the previous night with a strained thigh.

Crows premiership coach Bec Goddard said she was unsure when asked for an update on Phillips’ injury and would meet with the club doctor on Monday.

“Hopefully it is only a minor strain and she will be available for selection,” Goddard said. “But we won’t know until I speak with the doctor.”

Erin Phillips sat out Saturday’s match against Brisbane at Norwood Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Crows will have a recovery on Monday and the main session is programmed for Wednesday when it is hoped Phillips can prove her fitness.

“We manage Erin’s body a little different to the other, younger girls,” Goddard said. “She gets that right because she has played sport longer and we have got to be careful with her.”

The Crows also hope to regain All-Australian defender Courtney Cramey (hamstring), Abbey Holmes (knee) and Jenna McCormick, who has completed her season commitments with Adelaide United in the W-League, to face the Demons.

Goddard refused to use injuries as an excuse and said the Crows had all the necessary ingredients to get the job done without Phillips in the line-up.

“Should we be playing great footy and be able to fulfil those roles without Erin, yes, we should,” she said.

“I’m not too disappointed, you always want to win, but there is plenty to work with for round two. Some debutants performed really well.

“Ruth Wallace looked lively up forward, Eloise Jones kicked a terrific goal and Chelsea Randall took her game to a new level.”

As the titleholders, the Crows entered the opening round as the hunted and Goddard said that was not an issue for the side. She said last season’s premiership triumph was well and truly in the rear-view mirror.

The clash against the Demons would be given finals treatment, according to Goddard, although that was the attitude the players took into every contest.

“Every week is like a final because there are only seven games,” she said. “We treated every game like that last year and will do the same this season.”

The Crows scored in only one quarter, the second, when they registered 3.1, to lead by 10 points at half-time.