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Shaun Burgoyne says Erin Phillips one of the toughest athletes he’s met as she prepares to return from a second knee reconstruction

Shaun Burgoyne knows Erin Phillips better than most and has described her as “one of the mentally toughest” people he’s met as the star Crow prepares to return from a second knee reconstruction.

Erin Phillips is set to return from a second knee reconstruction this weekend. Picture: Emma Brasier (AAP).
Erin Phillips is set to return from a second knee reconstruction this weekend. Picture: Emma Brasier (AAP).

Shaun Burgoyne said Erin Phillips is one of the “mentally toughest” people he has met as the star Crow and his sister-in-law prepares to return from her second knee reconstruction this weekend.

Phillips will play her first AFLW game of the season against Carlton on Sunday after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in Adelaide’s grand final victory last year.

It was the second ACL injury of her career after she suffered the same fate but in her opposite knee while playing basketball.

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Phillips was an international basketball star in the WNBA and with the Opals before making the switch to football and being named the AFLW’s two-time most valuable player.

“She’s probably up there with the most mentally tough people you’d come across. She’s super, super tough,” Burgoyne told The Advertiser’s Black Australia podcast.

Erin Phillips makes her return tomorrow. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier.
Erin Phillips makes her return tomorrow. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier.

“She was a very talented golfer growing up, tennis player, footy player, so it’s good to see whe’s finally getting the accolades that she deserves.

“She’s done extremely well for what she’s had to do, living in Europe on and off, in America with basketball, and to see her now doing what she’s doing on the footy field and everyone applauding her is very pleasing for the family as well.”

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/shaun-burgoyne-says-erin-phillips-one-of-the-toughest-athletes-hes-met-as-she-prepares-to-return-from-a-second-knee-reconstruction/news-story/bcbac3f301746eb1d9d2aedc61139cd6