Veteran AFLW star Erin Phillips will depart the Adelaide Crows to join the reigning premiers’ bitter rivals for the 2023 season.
The former Olympic basketballer will become the central figure for Port Adelaide’s new AFLW team which will play in its inaugural season next year under coach Lauren Arnell, who recently became the AFLW’s first past player to graduate to AFLW senior coach.
Phillips widely regarded the AFLW's most decorated player since the competition’s inception in 2017, accumulating three premierships, two league MVP awards and two grand final Best-On-Ground Medals during her AFLW career.
Phillips’ family connection to Port spearheaded her decision to join the Alberton-based club:
“It’s been an absolute privilege to have been a part of the most successful AFLW club to date.”
“I obviously have great memories and friendships from my time at Adelaide, which I will cherish forever.”
“But as a kid growing up, all I wanted was to be like Dad and play football for the Port Adelaide Football Club. Port Adelaide feels like home to me. It’s where I spent a lot of my childhood.”
“It was always my dream to be able to represent the club and add to its incredible history, and I am beyond thrilled to finally get that chance and play a role in building this team from the ground up.”
Phillips’ high-profile move will generate a strong level of interest for the competition in next year’s instalment as Sydney, Essendon and Hawthorn also enter AFLW teams for the first time in 2023.
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