Marong secures Erin Phillips in the Carlton Draft

A country club has secured Erin Phillips as part of the Carlton Draft. Find out why the club was chosen.

Erin Phillips will be the first woman to take part in the Carlton Draft.

The historic first year of the Marong women’s team has just become better, securing the first ever female player to play in the Carlton Draft.

Former Adelaide and Port Adelaide player Erin Phillips will be playing for the club later this year, with the Bendigo-based club getting her services as a wildcard into the initiative.

The Panthers beat more than 95 clubs who entered into the competition.

The Carlton Draft sees country clubs in Victoria given the opportunity for one former player from the AFL or AFLW to play for them for a weekend.

Marong this year joined the Central Victoria Football League for the first time, expanding the competition to ten teams with Sandhurst and White Hills also making the step up.

The team has lost all eight matches this season with six coming by more than 100 points.

Erin Phillips celebrates a goal for Port Adelaide. She also played and won premierships with the Adelaide Crows. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Phillips will provide a major boost for the team.

“Our women’s team is so passionate about playing the game and mastering the skills it requires to play at the highest level, so to have arguably the greatest women’s player of all time in Erin playing a game for our club is a dream come true,” Marong president Darren Turnbull said.

“Our girls already have plenty of questions around tactics to ask Erin, so hopefully she can teach them a few tips and tricks that will hold the team in good stead for the future.

“It will be a monumental day for our club and our loyal fans who are over the moon to be welcoming her.

“Hopefully we can draw a big crowd and get a much-needed win on the board.”

Phillips said she can’t wait to play.

“It’s very exciting to finally know where I will be making my return to the footy field and I’m keen to get amongst the local footy atmosphere,” she said.

“Hopefully I can put a few smiles on the faces of loyal club supporters, teammates and representatives.

“It’s a huge moment for women’s footy to now be involved in The Carlton Draft and shows how far it has come since the AFLW was introduced in 2017.

“I can’t wait to meet my new teammates and run out alongside the next generation of female footy stars,” she said.

A date for the match has not been announced but the other matches involving Carlton Draft players have been.

The season started last weekend with Trent Cotchin playing for Ballan in the Central Highlands.

Over the next few weeks the rest will play.

On June 29, former Essendon great Matthew Lloyd will play for Old Collegians before 2022 Norm Smith Medallist Isaac Smith plays for Bunyip on July 13.

A week later Dylan Buckley plays for Toora before Leigh Montagna plays for Castlemaine on August 10.