Adelaide AFL news: Port Adelaide AFLW introduction set to tear apart Crows list
Port Adelaide’s AFLW debut is poised to spell the end of Adelaide’s reign as a superpower, with the Power keen to lure Erin Phillips to shake up the SA landscape.
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Adelaide is bracing to lose as many as 14 players from its AFLW list at the end of the season including its biggest star Erin Phillips.
The Crows are on the march towards what would be a third AFLW premiership this season as they sit atop of the ladder entering their final home-and-away match of the season against St Kilda on Sunday.
However, the club’s period of success is in danger of ending abruptly as cross-town rival Port Adelaide prepares to enter the competition with a bang next season.
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The Power have made no secret of their ambition to poach Phillips — one of the game’s most decorated players — to lead their inaugural AFLW side, with a dual playing and coaching coach role having been floated.
News Corp understands that Phillips has not yet made any commitment to Port Adelaide over a move to Alberton Oval, with her focus fixed on completing her campaign with the Crows.
But the Power remain quietly confident they will lure her across once Adelaide’s finals series is over.
The AFLW announced proposed list changes last December that would see the competition’s four incoming expansion clubs — Port Adelaide, Essendon, Hawthorn and Sydney — be allowed to sign up to 14 current AFLW players during a special expansion signing period.
The rules would pave the way for a raft of Crows teammates to join Phillips in a move to Port Adelaide, with multiple Adelaide players having strong links to the Power.
A two-time AFLW premiership player and dual league best and fairest, Phillips joined Adelaide as a marquee signing ahead of the 2017 season.
However, she is the daughter of eight-time Port Adelaide premiership player Greg Phillips and in 2015 had committed to become the Power’s first female footballer if the club was awarded a licence in the national women’s competition.
Phillips signed a one-year contract extension with Adelaide during the off-season and said in January that she was “completely focused on Adelaide Crows and after the season we will see how we will go”.
Phillips, 36, has again played a key role for the Crows this season, averaging 17.5 disposals from her eight matches.
The next AFLW season could be brought forward to August this year under a proposed shift to avoid the summer heat and clashes with tennis and cricket schedules.
CROWS SKIPPER PRAISES WALKER’S RETURN
Adelaide captain Rory Sloane is backing Taylor Walker to have another strong season, saying he has reintegrated seamlessly into the squad since his racism suspension.
Walker started the 2021 campaign in All-Australian form, but finished it in the headlines and away from the Crows after copping a six-game ban for vilifying North Adelaide’s Robbie Young at a SANFL match in August.
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The ex-Adelaide skipper returned to training early for the first day of pre-season and was now himself again, according to Sloane.
“Tex has come back loud, vocal and as cheeky as ever,” Sloane said at the AFL’s captains day on Wednesday.
“For me, for him, I knew he was back when his leadership was there.
“That’s what’s made him such a great footballer for our footy club for so long – his ability to drive the standard and hold others accountable and just to train with that ruthless mentality, and that’s what I’ve seen all summer.
“We’re enjoying him being back.
“What I’ve seen from Tex this summer suggests he’s gonna have another big season.”
Walker kicked 48 goals from 17 games last year before serving the first three games of his ban.
He will be unavailable until Round 4.
Sloane said he spoke to every teammate about the club’s all-time leading goalkicker returning, including Walker himself.
“It’s important to take in his feelings and everyone’s feelings in the situation,” he said.
The AFL barred Walker from playing in the Crows’ two practice games, an 89-point loss to Brisbane and 37-point defeat to Port Adelaide.
Sloane said the Crows were strongly placed heading into its opening round match against Fremantle next week and were capable of surprising people this year.
None of the AFL’s captains predicted Adelaide would make the finals, while some critics nominated the club to win a second wooden spoon in three seasons.
The Crows last made the top eight in 2017.
“Whatever people think of us, that’s fine,” Sloane said.
“We’ll go about our business and as long as we’re playing the style of footy that we want to play – and you guys got a glimpse of that towards the end of last year and maybe saw half of it against Port – if we can play that style of footy, that footy we’re really proud of, then we might surprise a few people.
“Every team, that’s what we play for, we want to make finals and play finals.
“So for us it’s just been how do we get better … and focusing on those things first.
“It feels exciting but it’s the whole unknown when you come into games against other opposition.”
Sloane said today’s squad reminded him of his early days at the Crows when the club was near the foot of the ladder.
The midfielder’s first two seasons as an AFL regular were in 2010 and 2011, when the club finished 11th and 14th.
In 2012, it bounced back to a preliminary final.
“That’s the aim to get these guys as far up the ladder as quick as we can, and hopefully we (the older players) are part of it,” Sloane said.
Sloane, who is set to turn 32 next week, enters this year as the Crows’ oldest player.
The 229-gamer said he was feeling good after missing five and four matches the past two seasons through injuries, including eye problems in 2021.
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