AFLW nice Erin Phillips was inducted into the AFL Corridor of Fame on Tuesday evening, becoming a member of her father Greg within the esteemed group.
Phillips, a three-time Adelaide premiership participant and two-time league finest and fairest winner, joined Daisy Pearce to grow to be the primary AFLW gamers to be inducted, becoming a member of Debbie Lee as the feminine inductees.
Greg performed 86 video games for Collingwood over a 4 12 months interval however made a reputation for himself for Port Adelaide’s SANFL group between 1976 and 1993, additionally representing South Australia 20 occasions.
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The previous SA participant was in attendance and couldn’t disguise his emotion when Phillips addressed her mom and father in her acceptance speech.
“To my mum and pop, I could not have requested for higher dad and mom to let me be who I wished to be … Mum, you do not actually ever get a lot credit score … I thanks and love you a lot,” Phillips mentioned.
“To Dad… I am unable to think about how arduous it could’ve been to inform your 13-year-old daughter that she could not play the sport that she loves anymore. And 27 years later, she’s standing subsequent to you within the Corridor of Fame.
Erin Phillips and father Greg finally evening’s induction. FOX Sports activities
“Thanks for educating me a recreation that I beloved, and though you knew it wasn’t going to take me wherever on the time, you continue to taught me anyway.”
Phillips mirrored on her journey as a lady within the recreation throughout her speech, recounting her experiences on the sphere.
“I attempted to slot in (with the boys taking part in), reduce my hair quick (and) had a extremely good ‘mushroom’ haircut as a younger child. (I) obtained mistaken for a boy always,” Phillips mentioned.
“I bear in mind a recreation really, I ran out to centre-half ahead, stood subsequent to my opponent. I might see him scanning the sphere searching for one thing, after which he turns to me and goes: ‘I heard you’ve gotten a lady on this group, and I heard she’s fairly good’.
“I checked out him, and I am going: ‘Yeah, you are standing subsequent to her!’… I gave him a hiding that recreation.
“I by no means wished to be a boy, I simply wished the alternatives that boys had — and that was footy. That was all I ever wished.”
Phillips thanked her spouse Tracy Gahan but in addition had sort phrases for Lee, who was inducted in 2021.
“Debbie, you kicked down this door so others might stroll by way of,” she added.
“(You are the) first feminine member of the Corridor of Fame (and) I am so proud to be by your facet, and I am unable to wait to kick extra doorways down with you Deb.”
Different inductees included St Kilda nice Nick Riewoldt, four-time Hawthorn premiership participant Luke Hodge, former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon and South Adelaide ruckman Peter Darley.
South Australia’s Ken Farmer was elevated to legend standing whereas John Leedham and George Owens had been the historic inductees for 2025.
