Footy legends inspire
The bond between father and daughter is often easy to spot. Few are as conspicuous as those forged between footy star dads and their AFLW offspring. ZOE SMITH reports on the life lessons three of them have shared.
THEY are the AFLW stars following in the footsteps of their footy legend fathers.
For these young women, their indoctrination into the game came early.
As Father’s Day approaches, four of the leading stars of the AFLW reveal how their beloved dads kickstarted their passion for footy — and ultimately their drive to make it to the top.
Adelaide co-captain Erin Phillips can still vividly remember the day her father, Greg Phillips, won the 1990 premiership with Port Adelaide in front of a full house.
As a child, the Olympic basketballer turned AFLW star was “instantly inspired” to play the game by watching her dad in action.
“I saw first-hand the joy and passion that playing football brought to his life,” Phillips, 34, told News Corp.
“I grew up as part of a football club that was like an extended family. I loved the game and wanted to play from the moment I could walk.”
Watching the 1990 premiership as a six-year-old was a turning point in her life.
“After the siren, Dad came over to me and lifted me up over the fence and I ran a lap of honour with him and his teammates.
“I still remember moments of that day. I remember jumping in the team photo and holding my fist in the air as if I was the one who had won the flag also.
“That was an incredible day for me as a young girl wanting to be a footy player.”
Phillips said her father taught her the importance of “resilience, hard work and mateship”.
During his time with Port Adelaide, Greg Phillips played in a total of eight premierships and ended up playing over 400 senior games — 343 games with Port Adelaide, 84 VFL games for Collingwood and 20 state games.
Erin Phillips advises other young players about to embark on their own football journeys to give it their all.
“Sporting careers go so fast that you take it for granted at times. You want to look back at your journey some day and say that you gave it all that you could,” she said.
“Most importantly, you get to spend a lot of time as part of a team.
“It is the best part of football. You gain lifelong friendships.”
AS the first fatherdaughter recruit in AFLW history, Abbie McKay has followed in the footsteps of her
dad, Carlton premiership defender Andrew McKay.
McKay, 18, started out playing for a team her mum Sam established at the Prahran Junior Football Club.
And her dad’s grounded approach has always helped her on her football journey.
“Besides the basic football skills, I think an important thing he has taught me is that it isn’t the be all and end all,” she said.
“And if something doesn’t go to plan, don’t worry about it, and keep trying..
“I think that is what has always helped me find it enjoyable.”
Being around footy all her life also gave her an appreciation for it and a greater understanding of the game.
“I don’t think there was a specific moment or milestone in my dad’s career (that inspired me) as I was still so young while dad was still playing,” she said.
“But I think his knowledge for the game helped spark my passion.
“I was able to go to him for any advice or queries around it, whether they were big or small.”
McKay urges young footballers to “just give everything a go”. “Whether it be trying out for a new team or even trying a new skill, you never know how it will help you or where it will take you,” she said.
Born into a family with a strong history in Aussie rules football, Geelong Cats captain Melissa Hickey was destined to love footy.
But her passion for AFL
was cemented when her eversupportive father, Peter Hickey, found a football on the side of the road near their Mildura farm.
“Dad and his brothers and father had played local football and spoke regularly about their experiences playing — the stories were generally about how good they were,” she said.
“The footy was what we watched together as a family on TV, and dad would always have the footy on the radio as he worked out in the sheds.
“But dad was really the first one that got me started playing by bringing a football home that he found on the side of the road, and then he spent time with me kicking the footy around at our property.”
Peter played for South Mildura in the Sunraysia league in the 1970s and ’80s. He trained with Richmond, but didn’t play an AFL game for them, instead returning to the family farm to work.
His daughter now wears the number 18, which he wore in his playing days.
“My dad had retired from football by the time I was born, but definitely him bringing that football home and being supportive of me kicking it around was the start of my passion for footy as a player,” Hickey said.
“Dad has taught me so much. Footy wise he taught me how to kick, handball and mark — I still remember him teaching me to mark with one knee up in the air to protect myself.
“When I started playing he was always really encouraging and would help with giving me feedback on my game and would always send me a good luck message and a message after the game to check that I wasn’t injured.”
He has been a source of support during the tough times too, she said.
Hickey said young players needed to embrace their mistakes and enjoy the process of learning football.
“The most important part is to have fun,” she said.
“Have fun playing the game with your own little football family.”