AFLW star Erin Phillips will wear the number 22 for Port Adelaide, the same number her father wore at the club, but says she wants to create her own legacy for the Power.
The dual best and fairest winner and triple-premiership player will play for expansion club Port in its inaugural AFLW season starting later this year.
She leaves cross-town rivals Adelaide after spending six seasons at West Lakes.
“He’s so proud and it’ll be good to see Dad back in the stands in the Port colours again.”
The Phillips name has a rich history at Port Adelaide.
Greg Philips played 343 games for the club in the SANFL, and is an eight-time premiership player.
He was also captain of the side from 1991 to 1993.
Phillips said she had made a lot of midnight phone calls to her father before finally making the decision to leave the Crows.
“He told me there’s no wrong decision and I’ve got to make the best decision for me,” she said.
“He’s just been so proud … he’s really rapt and more rapt that I’ve finally made the decision.”
The 36-year-old leaves the Crows after playing 46 games for the club, kicking 50 goals.
She won premierships with the Crows in 2017, 2019 and 2022 and was named best on ground in two of those grand finals.
Phillips said while it was a dream come true to now follow in her father’s footsteps at Port Adelaide, she hoped to forge her own path at the club.
“I want to contribute as much as I can on the field and off the field to help this team achieve success.
“To be back here at a place that I call home with such amazing history … it gives me goosebumps wearing these colours.”
‘Friendships I’ll have for a lifetime’
Adelaide is the AFLW’s most successful team in the first six years of the competition.
Phillips said she would treasure the memories she made at Adelaide, but felt like she had left at the right time.
“I think I’m really proud of what I was able to be a part of at the Crows and the success that we’ve had,” she said.
“There’s friendships there that I’ll have for a lifetime.”
Earlier, Crows AFLW Head of Football Phil Harper said the club was disappointed to lose her, but understood her decision.
“As a footballer, Erin has been the best player of her generation but equally she is a great person,” Harper said.
“We wish Erin, her wife Tracy and their family all the best for the future and thank them for helping make our club a better place.”
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
