EVERY GIRL’S DREAM
Our trailblazing Territory champions pave the way
AS good as Olympic gold? Erin Phillips ( pictured) is yet to sample that glory but guiding Adelaide to the AFL Women’s inaugural premiership is not far off, she reckons.
Phillips – the basketball star who has lit up the first season of the AFL Women’s competition – was the Crows’ on-field inspiration as they defeated Brisbane by six points in yesterday’s decider.
The 31-year-old had a game-high 28 disposals, made seven tackles and scored two third-quarter goals as the Crows held off a fast-finishing Brisbane to claim a 4.11 (35) to 4.5 (29) win in front of 15,610 fans at Metricon Stadium.
For someone who has won an Olympic Games silver medal, a basketball world championship and two WNBA titles, yesterday’s success on a footy field was something she still held so dear after a lifetime obsessed with football.
“It’s definitely really special, right up there,” she said.
“Just the love and support from the community, from South Australia, Northern Territory and the football club – it’s just amazing.”
Yesterday’s win also means Phillips joins her father Greg as a premiership winner – something she never felt sure would happen, although she admits the eight-time SANFL winner with Port Adelaide still holds bragging rights.
The Crows’ win over the previously undefeated Lions should really have been more comfortable.
They opened the scoring before the Lions had even touched the ball and Brisbane young gun Tayla Harris didn’t even have a touch of the footy in the first half, such was the dominance Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall held in that one-on-one battle.
But the Lions were gutsy, never going away in their effort to finish the season without a loss.
That effort was never better epitomised than by Kate Lutkins’ desperate run and dive to tackle Adelaide’s Rachael Killian when the Crow was headed for goal midway through the second term.
When Lions ruck Sabrina Frederick-Traub kicked a goal in the third term, the margin was down to a single score and the Lions were ready to pounce.
“We were in the biggest fight of our lives with Brisbane,” Crows coach Bec Goddard said.
“They’re an amazing opponent and we knew that was going to happen. Their defence was unbelievable.”
Almost inevitably, when the chips were down, it was Phillips who delivered. Her second third-quarter goal restored a two-goal margin going into the final change and ensured the Crows could hold on for their historic victory.