By Marnie Vinall
Olympian, OAM, and arguably the GOAT of AFLW, Port Adelaide captain Erin Phillips will hang up the boots at the end of this season.
After eight seasons and 66 games across stints with the Crows and Power, the two-time league best and fairest, three-time premiership player and women’s football trailblazer will play her final game this Saturday when the Power take on GWS at Alberton Oval.
She will go down as one of the first titans of the women’s game and a pioneer of the sport at the elite level. As the competition stands, there is no player more decorated than the 38-year-old. As a cross-code star, her Wikipedia page alone could fill a book.
Erin Phillips is retiring from AFLW.Credit: AFL Photos
But Phillips’ contribution has always been more than the accolades show, having given so much back to the sport behind the spotlight ...
Paving the way in two different sports
It’s no surprise Phillips said her body needed a rest.
Even if she never became an AFLW player she would still be remembered as one of Australia’s most successful athletes. Before the introduction of the elite women’s football competition, Phillips was a star international basketball player.
In her illustrious career overseas, she won two WNBA championships, one WNBL title and on three occasions was named in the WNBL All-Star five. While representing the Opals she won a Commonwealth Games gold medal (Melbourne 2006) and an Olympic silver (Beijing 2008), and became a WNBL champion in 2008 with Adelaide Lightning.
She risked her professional career as a basketball coach in the WNBA, which was in full swing at the Dallas Wings, to move back to Australia from the United States to have a crack in the burgeoning AFLW competition – to play the sport she always loved the most. She was 31 at the time.
Phillips took a risk, and in her own words has “no regrets” when it comes to the path she took, including changing AFLW clubs from Adelaide to the Power last year.
“It’s almost like I’ve had two fairytale endings to my AFLW career. Finishing off at the Crows with three premierships on a premiership season and then to come home and live out an absolute childhood dream to represent this club [Power] feels right” she said.
“I think everything has worked out the way it should have.”
Leadership
Phillips was a leader in every sense of the word. A two-time premiership co-captain at the Crows, alongside Chelsea Randall in 2017 and 2019, she was then the Power’s inaugural AFLW captain.
Power head coach Lauren Arnell said Phillips epitomised the meaning of leadership when it came to Australian sport.
Erin Phillips won the premiership with the Crows.Credit: Getty Images
“She’s an exemplary leader, an exceptional footballer and, above all, a loyal and respected person. Erin’s achievements in AFLW football are unmatched,” Arnell said at Phillips’ retirement announcement.
“She’s a trailblazer of women’s sport and an inspiration to aspiring footballers and fans everywhere.
“Personally, I’ll very much miss Erin’s valued leadership, determination to drive standards, sharp sense of humour, and a strong loyalty and support, which will leave a lasting impact on our AFLW team and the club as a whole.”
The family legacy she built on
Her family name was already etched in the history books of Alberton, and a new chapter was written when Phillips walked (back) in.
After three premierships with Adelaide, she made the decision to switch colours and head back to Alberton, where she grew up watching her father and club legend, Greg Phillips, play.
He played 343 SANFL games between 1976 and 1993 (with a four-year stint at Collingwood from 1983 to 1986 in between), and earned a club best and fairest, All-Australian blazer, and was captain from ’91 to his retirement. He was one of Port Adelaide’s greatest players and is a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
The pair became the first father-daughter captaincy duo at the highest level of AFL/W and in her retirement speech Phillips thanked her dad for passing on his love of the game.
“Thank you for teaching me this game, for spending time when I’m sure you were tired and sore from your own trainings to teach me this game as a young girl. And even when you knew there was no future in it, you taught me anyway,” said Phillips.
“You are the reason why I love this game, and I’m proud, so proud that I got to play here. Even more proud that I get to be the same number as you.”
Phillips said she leaves the game with an overwhelming amount of gratitude, for both her clubs and the chance to witness firsthand the impact of AFLW on female football and sport in Australia.
She will play her final game this Saturday when the Power take on GWS from 3.05pm AEDT at Alberton Oval.
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