AFLW 2023: Women’s football great Erin Phillips announces retirement

One of Australia’s most decorated dual sport athletes has drawn the curtain on a 21-year professional career.

Adelaide and Port Adelaide legend Erin Phillips has announced her retirement. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

AFLW great Erin Phillips has called time on a decorated professional sporting career spanning 21 years and two different codes.

The Port Adelaide captain, a three-time premiership player with Adelaide, will play her 67th and final game on Saturday against GWS in front of her home crowd at Alberton.

Phillips, 38, had contemplated retirement midway through last year before crossing from Adelaide to the Power to be the inaugural captain at the club she grew up around as her father, Greg, played in 343 games and eight premierships with Port.

“The time is right for me to call time on my football career,” Phillips said.

“I am so grateful to Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Football Club for giving me the opportunity to play the game I have loved since I was little.

Erin Phillips will play her final AFLW game at Alberton on Saturday for Port Adelaide against GWS after announcing her retirement. Picture: Sarah Reed / Getty Images

“To share the last two years of my career with the Alberton crowd has been an incredible experience. I have given everything I had left to this club and I’m so grateful to our members and fans for their support through the highs and lows.

“It has been a true privilege to lead this team and I can’t wait to see what this group will achieve in the coming years.

“It’s been an amazing ride and I’m looking forward to the next chapter. For me, that will mean giving my body a rest and spending more time with my family.

“I am so grateful to be finishing my playing days at Port Adelaide.”

Port Adelaide was not issued a licence for the first AFLW season in 2017, so Phillips decided to join the Crows as a “rookie” after crossing from basketball.

Erin Phillips won an Olympic silver medal, FIBA World Cup gold and Commonwealth Games gold medals playing basketball for the Australian Opals. Picture: Gregg Porteous

She had represented the Opals at the Rio Olympics only a month before signing for the Crows, where she won the 2017 and 2019 league best and fairest awards and led them to the flags in both those years before also playing in the 2022 season six premiership.

Phillips played 46 games and booted 50 goals for Adelaide, topping the Crows’ goalkicking twice in 2018 and 2021 as she scored heavily when resting forward after stints in the midfield.

Her basketball career began as a 17-year-old with the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL before a move to WNBA franchise Connecticut Sun in 2006.

Phillips won two WNBA championships with the Indiana Fever in 2012 and Phoenix Mercury in 2014.

Erin Phillips brilliant AFLW career

46 games with Adelaide (2017-22)

19* games Port Adelaide (2022-23)

52 goals

Three-time premiership player – 2017, 2019, 2022 (S6)

Two-time AFLW Best and Fairest – 2017 and 2019

Two-time AFLW Grand Final Best on Ground Medal winner – 2017 and 2019

Three-time All Australian – 2017 (Vice Captain), 2019 (Captain), 2021

Adelaide Crows’ best and fairest – 2017 and 2019

Adelaide Crows co-captain – 2017-2020

Port Adelaide captain – 2022, 2023

Two-time AFLW Players’ Association Most Valuable Player – 2017 and 2019

AFLW Coaches Association Championship Player 2019

Adelaide Crows’ leading goalkicker – 2018 and 2021

AFLW Players’ Association Most Valuable Player – 2017 and 2019

AFLW Goal of the Year 2017

Originally published as AFLW 2023: Women’s football great Erin Phillips announces retirement