The AFL today congratulated Erin Phillips on her career following her decision to retire at the end of the 2023, saying she was the most highly decorated AFLW player and was consistently the most dominant player of the early years of the AFLW.
Phillips announced her retirement today, finishing her AFLW career as a triple-premiership player, a two-time league best and fairest and two-time grand final best on ground medal winner.
Coming back to football late in her sporting life after an exceptional international basketball career, including winning an Olympic silver medal, Phillips was a triple All Australian and two-time club champion in the Adelaide Crows’ premiership years.
An inaugural captain at the Crows, Phillips then played her last two seasons with Port Adelaide when the Power joined the AFLW, captaining the club three decades after her father, Australian Football Hall of Fame member, Greg led the Port Adelaide Magpies to the SANFL 1992 Premiership.
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon congratulated Phillips and said that she would retire as a champion of the game.
“Erin retires as a true champion of the AFLW. She set elite standards as a foundation player in the competition and has won almost everything there is to win in the AFLW,” Dillon said.
"Her unbelievable set of skills – kicking, marking, tackling and goal-scoring – were exemplary and she would always save her best for the big stage.”
AFL General Manager Womens Football Nicole Livingstone thanked Phillips for her contribution to the game and said she would be remembered as one of the country’s best sportspeople.
“Erin was an outstanding junior footy player until she was prevented from playing footy as a girl. Coming back to the game after nine seasons in the WNBA – winning two championships and an Olympic silver medal for the Opals – Erin is one of Australia’s preeminent athletes,” Livingstone said.
“Congratulations on your incredible career. Thank you for all that you have given to womens football and all the best to you, Tracy, Londyn, Drew, Blake and Brooklyn in retirement.”
Erin Phillips
- 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
