Injured Erin Phillips dominates AFLW awards
MVP Erin Phillips and her wife Tracy Gahan at the 2019 AFLW W Awards at The Peninsula in Melbourne on Tuesday. Photo: Getty
Adelaide star Erin Phillips has dominated the AFLW awards night, comfortably winning her second best-and-fairest honour.
Two days after the Crows won the premiership, the Adelaide co-captain was also named skipper of the All-Australian team for the first time.
Phillips attended Tuesday night’s awards function in Melbourne after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during the grand final win over Carlton.
She was best afield in Sunday’s clash at Adelaide Oval, which attracted a record crowd of more than 53,000.
Members of the premiership-winning Adelaide AFLW side. Photo: Getty
While Phillips wore a black gown to the awards dinner, the Crows co-captain was also in gym shoes, thanks to the injury and she limped to the stage to receive her awards.
Phillips was the overwhelming favourite to win the best and fairest award after the AFLW season and she had an unbeatable lead with two of the seven rounds of votes still to be counted.
She polled 19 out of a possible 21 votes, with five best-afield performances.
Ebony Marinoff accepts the AFLW MVP Award on behalf of injured Crows teammate Erin Phillips. Photo: Getty
Her ruptured ACL will require a knee reconstruction, meaning several months of rehabilitation.
“It’s obviously been an emotional last few days. When you live one of the best days and the worst days in one, it’s a lot,” Phillips said.
2x AFLW Premiership (best on ground in both games)
2x AFLPA Player of the Year
Gold Medallist at the 2006 FIBA World Championships
Silver Medallist at the 2008 Olympics
2x @WNBA ChampionTonight, Erin Phillips collected her second NAB AFL Women's Best and Fairest award. pic.twitter.com/5KKReYYhmE
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 2, 2019
While accepting the major award, Phillips also confirmed she turned down interviewing for a head coaching job in the WNBA because it would have meant missing out on a third AFLW season.
Carlton’s Brianna Davey won AFLW Best Captain and teammate Madison Prespakis won AFLW Best First Year Player. Photo: Getty
While Phillips also made the 2017 All-Australian team, this is the first time she is captain of the honorary team.
On Monday, the 33-year-old Australian Rules and basketball star comfortably won the AFL Players Association award for the second time.
But she was not among the three players who have made all three AFLW All-Australian teams.
The Geelong contingent looks the part. Photo: Getty
Fremantle players arrive at The Peninsula on Tuesday night for the awards. Photo: Getty
That honour went to Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall, last year’s AFLW best and fairest winner Emma Kearney (North Melbourne) and Melbourne’s Karen Paxman.
Randall was also named vice-captain of the All-Australian line-up.
The team of 21 featured 16 on-field positions and five interchange.
North Melbourne’s Kaitlyn Ashmore. Photo: Getty
The Melbourne line-up fronted in style. Photo: Getty
Adelaide had five players in the team and expansion team North Melbourne had four representatives.
Carlton’s Maddie Prespakis, the No.3 draft pick last October, won the Rising Star award and also made the All-Australian team.
Greater Western Sydney was the only team not represented in the All-Australian line-up.
Your 2019 Virgin Australia AFL Women's All Australian team!
Congratulations all! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZtaQYOMjqu
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) April 2, 2019
2019 AFLW ALL-AUSTRALIAN TEAM
B: Ash Brazill (Collingwood), Meg McDonald (Geelong Cats)
HB: Jess Duffin (Kangaroos), Chelsea Randall (Adelaide Crows), Kerryn Harrington (Carlton)
C: Emma Kearney (Kangaroos), Kiara Bowers (Fremantle), Karen Paxman (Melbourne)
HF: Erin Phillips (Adelaide Crows), Jasmine Garner (Kangaroos), Monique Conti (Western Bulldogs)
F: Gemma Houghton (Fremantle), Stevie Lee Thompson (Adelaide Crows)
FOLLOWERS: Lauren Pearce (Melbourne), Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide Crows), Madison Prespakis (Carlton)
I: Emma King (Kangaroos), Gabbie Pound (Carlton), Ally Anderson (Brisbane Lions), Anne Hatchard (Adelaide Crows), Dana Hooker (Fremantle).
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan mingles with players. Photo: Getty
The Kangaroos featured four players named in the All-Australian team. Photo: Getty
Karen Paxman of the Demons (right) made the All-Australian side for the third time. Photo: Getty
Collingwood duo Stephanie Chiocci and Chloe Molloy. Photo: Getty
Western Bulldogs Monique Conti. Photo: Getty
-AAP