Erin Phillips named the first AFL Women’s AFLPA MVP after stellar season with Adelaide

ERIN Phillips has admitted she never thought the highs she has experienced in the last three days could have been possible.

Adelaide co-captain Erin Phillips celebrates the AFLW Grand Final win.

ERIN Phillips has admitted she never thought the highs she has experienced in the last three days could have been possible.

The AFL Women’s premiership star and grand final best-on-ground player capped off a stellar 72 hours with yet another feather in her cap, voted by her peers as the AFL Players’ Association AFLW Most Valuable Player.

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After her preseason was restricted to just one week after she suffered a serious quad injury, Phillips said she had “no expectations” coming into what has since been a glittering season.

“I hadn’t played for a long time and I just really wanted to enjoy this year and not take it for granted,” she said yesterday.

“It’s something that I never thought would come around and initially I had signed with Port (Adelaide) if they were to get the licence. I’m just really grateful for this opportunity and a lot of the work is done by players in the past who have set this league up to succeed.”

There had been doubt.

Chelsea Randall and coach Bec Goddard.

Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce.

Well done @erinphillips131 unbelievable effort by you and the girls this year. Awesome!! https://t.co/C4dUOY7KtN

— Mark Ricciuto (@markricciuto) March 27, 2017

Phillips, a two-time WNBA champion, had weighed up whether even playing was worth the risk of injury and, potentially, the end of her basketball career.

She will return to the US in mid-April before beginning her WNBA preseason on April 23.

“It was a massive decision. It was risking my final year of (WNBA with the) Dallas (Wings) — this is my contract year,” she said.

“I would have had more regrets not to have been a part of the competition and I was prepared to face whatever happened. If I got to play one game, I would have been satisfied.”

Phillips is considered favourite to take out Tuesday night’s league best-and-fairest award, to be presented at the inaugural W Awards in Melbourne.

She said to have taken out Monday’s accolade was “really, really special”.

“To be voted by your peers is something that’s a huge honour, so I’m very humbled,” she said.

“All individuals in a sporting team ... you’re just an extension of what they’ve done so I owe a lot to them.”

She was immediately congratulated by brother-in-law and Hawthorn star and fellow The Line ambassador Shaun Burgoyne.

“She’s an absolute superstar and we’re all so proud of Erin and what she’s already done for the sport,” he said.

Teammate Chelsea Randall — who was yesterday recognised as the AFLPA AFLW Most Courageous Player — tipped Phillips to claim the crown tonight, as did Melbourne skipper Daisy Pearce.

“She’s an excitement to watch,” Randall said of her co-captain.

“I’m very fortunate to have her beside me every single week. We’re very lucky to have her.

Originally published as Erin Phillips named the first AFL Women’s AFLPA MVP after stellar season with Adelaide