‘Formidable athlete and an exemplary leader’: AFLW great Erin Phillips announces retirement

Port Adelaide captain and three-time premiership player Erin Phillips will hang up the boots at the end of the season.

After eight seasons and 66 games, the two-time league best and fairest winner and women’s football pioneer will play her final game this Saturday when the Power take on GWS at Alberton Oval.

Erin Phillips is retiring from AFLW.Credit: AFL Photos

No player has more individual accolades to their name.

Phillips, 38, started her elite football career at Adelaide at 31 after an illustrious basketball career – including two WNBA championships, one WNBL championship and on three occasions being named in the WNBL All-Star five.

At the Crows, she earned three All-Australian blazers, two club champion awards, two club leading goalkicker awards, two AFLW most valuable player awards and two grand final best-on-ground medals.

Then, she switched to cross-town rivals Port Adelaide in the second season of 2022 and was the Power’s inaugural captain, following in the footsteps of her father Greg Phillips, a club legend.

After two seasons with Power, Phillips said the time was right for her to call time on her football career to give her a body a rest and be able to spend time with her family, including wife Tracy and four children.

“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,” Phillips said.