Footy hall of fame has first father-daughter members
The Adelaide and Port Adelaide star was a marquee name when the AFLW started in 2017 and she joins women's pioneer Debbie Lee, who was inducted four years ago.
Phillips paid an emotional tribute to her dad Greg, and Lee, who were at Tuesday's annual induction dinner in Melbourne, in her acceptance speech.
"To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves any more," she said.
"And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the hall of fame."
Phillips thanked the "incredible women" who made the AFLW possible and singled out Lee.
"You kicked down this door so others could walk through," she said. "I'm so proud to be by your side and I can't wait to kick down more doors with you Deb."
Phillips ended her stellar playing career at the end of 2022. The five-year player eligibility rule for the Hall of Fame was changed for women last year. AFLW players can now be inducted within a year of retirement and she was an obvious candidate.
Her father, Port Adelaide great Greg, was inducted in 2020. Fos and Mark Williams, Hayden Bunton Sr and Jr and umpires Jack McMurray Sr and Jr are the father-son inductees.
Phillips was Adelaide's inaugural captain and the first women's best and fairest winner, playing in three Crows flags despite needing a knee reconstruction.
She then switched to Port Adelaide when they joined the league in 2022.
When the women's league started in 2017, marquee players such as Phillips were crucial for its profile and credibility.
Phillips, a former WNBA and Australian basketballer, immediately established herself as one of the AFLW's elite players.
Also on Tuesday night, South Australian goalkicking machine Ken Farmer was elevated to legend status and St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt joined Phillips as inductees.
Farmer, who died in 1982, is the SANFL's most prolific goalkicker, with 1417 for North Adelaide from 1929-41 in 224 games at an extraordinary average of 6.33 per game.
He was never goalless in a game and coached the Roosters to two premierships.
Riewoldt holds St Kilda's record for the most games as captain, with 221 of his 336 matches. His induction was delayed because his family spent time in the United States.
The key forward was a five-time All Australian who went agonisingly close to a premiership, playing in St Kilda's draw and two losses across 2009-10.
Riewoldt said he had made his peace with not being able to help the Saints win their elusive second flag
"Rather than feeling like I walked away with the game still owing me something, I walk away feeling like the game gave me absolutely everything," he said.
Seven-time East Perth premiership player George Owens was this year's first historical inductee.
Apart from his swathe of premierships at East Perth and the 1925 Sandover Medal, Owens also umpired five WAFL grand finals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
15 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Harrington leads Senior British Open as Aussies hover
Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift. Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift. Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift. Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift.
The Advertiser
43 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Finals beckon, but Suns keep their Witts about them
Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK." Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK." Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK."
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Harrington leads Senior British Open as Aussies hover
Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift.
