The Erin Phillips story: How a Magpie found new wings as a Crow
FROM the boundary at Alberton Oval, to basketball glory around the world, to a place in history at West Lakes, Crows co-captain Erin Phillips’ journey looks more like destiny than chance. This is her story.
IT is a Port Adelaide Magpies game in 1990 at Alberton Oval.
At five years old, with a footy under my arm, I am hanging over the fence waiting for the quarter time siren to sound.
When it finally does, I kick the ball as far as my leg can possibly manage, and with all the speed I have, I run after it.
My plan was always to kick the ball in the air and mark it as many times as I could before the oval got too crowded with people who would be making their way to the Magpie huddle to listen to John Cahill talk to his players.
I would weave my way through the legs of the locals and get up close nearest to my Dad, Greg, and listen. (Dad would either give me a high five, a wink or a pat on the head when he saw me, which looking back, makes me smile with fond memories!)
Although I was too young to understand exactly what Jack was saying (probably a blessing in disguise, really!), I just loved listening to the passion and intensity in his voice.
I was fascinated by the way he could draw the attention from all his players. There just wasn’t anything like a good Cahill rev-up speech!
The siren blasts and before the players part and take to the field, both supporters and players start “pumping” each other up. My favourite things to yell out would be along the lines of: ‘Let’s go boys’ or ‘Smash ‘em’, followed with a “go get ‘em, Dad’ as I’d run off back to my seat.
On my way I’d make sure to find Alfie Trebilcock, a trainer who carried a jar of grip for the players. (He always had it ready for me.)
I’d rub it all over my hands then have a few more kicks until I reached the fence where I would then run up to sit with Mum, my sisters and the rest of my family. My hands would be filthy from a combination of dirt, grip and grass. I loved it and was now ready to watch the second quarter.
So ... the bounce goes up and I am right into the game. One eye always looking at the clock making sure that I would be ready for my next opportunity to have a kick on the oval.
My love for footy started pretty much from the moment I entered the world. Football was in my blood. Having grown up watching Dad play and coach made my desire to play footy grow and grow. (How could it not, really?)
I played for SMOSH West Lakes until I was no longer allowed to compete, as unfortunately, there was no pathway beyond the age of 13 years old for me.
Thankfully, I started playing basketball near the same time as my footy days were coming to an end, which looking back now, worked out for me.
But at the time, it was hard to understand at 13 years old why I couldn’t play, not only with the boys, but being told I had to stop playing a sport I loved so much all because I was a girl. That was a hard pill to swallow, let me tell you.
I was very lucky to have good support from the West Adelaide Bearcats, who made me enjoy the transition from footy to basketball.
In fact, my sporting journey away from football has taken me all around the world, playing in countries including the United States, Europe, Asia and even the Middle East.
I have been fortunate enough to play more than 100 games in the green and gold, including three World Championships and two Olympics.
I am about to enter my 10th year in the WNBA, with two championships to my name.
And let’s not forget … I got to meet then US President Barack Obama inside the White House in Washington DC.
Although I have not retired from basketball I look back on what I have accomplished with the sport and know that I would never trade any of those experiences; it’s been an amazing ride.
But I have always stayed in touch with game of football, no matter where I have been in the world.
Having Shaun Burgoyne as my brother-in-law has allowed me to follow and be a part of one of the most special careers in the AFL.
No matter where I was in the world, I would follow his games. In a rare opportunity I got to attend his 2015 AFL Grand Final at the MCG and the whole time kept thinking just how amazing it must be to play in such a game. I was so envious.
When the teams were announced for the inaugural women’s league in June I was disappointed that Port Adelaide were not among the 8 sides. My opportunity to come home after so many years overseas seemed impossible.
But then (Crows chief executive) Andrew Fagan and (general manager football administration) Phil Harper called me and at first I even kind of felt like I was doing something illegal.
After all, how could I play for the rivals of the team that I grown up with? What would Dad think of that??
But I was absolutely blown away with their vision and passion that they had for the women’s league. Immediately after I hung up I knew that this was a club that I wanted to be a part of, and most importantly, I was coming home to Adelaide. And Dad? He was just as excited.
I do find it ironic how at 13 I stopped playing football and at 31 I am starting it again …
My Adelaide Crows number is 13, my basketball numbers for the Opals and in the WNBA are 13 and 31. A sign that this is all meant to be?