BY NATHAN DOLE
Inclusion of Erin Phillips a huge plus for Marong
NO MATTER the result, Marong’s players will gain plenty from having AFLW legend Erin Phillips as a team-mate in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy action this Sunday.
Marong takes on Golden Square in a stand-alone match at East West Oval in Malone Park from 1pm.
The Panthers and Bulldogs clash was moved from the weekend of July 19-21 to allow Phillips to play as part of the Carlton Draught promotion.
A triple premiership player with Adelaide Crows, Phillips is the first AFLW great to be signed up via the Carlton Draught for the special one-off appearance.
Among those heading to Marong on Sunday will be many from the Phillips family.
In terms of outstanding dual-code athletes, Erin Phillips is one of Australia’s best.
The 66th and final game of a brilliant AFLW career was last summer with Port Adelaide.
Phillips played for Adelaide Crows from 2017 to ’22 and was a star in the premiership wins of 2017, ’19 and ’22.
She was best afield in the grand final wins of ’17 and ’19 and was a dual winner of the AFLW fairest and best award.
A three-time All-Australian, Phillips was a dual winner of the AFLW Players’ MVP award, the AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year in 2019.
She also earned the AFLW goal of the year award in 2017.
On the basketball court, Erin was a silver medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
She also won gold at the 2006 world championships in Brazil in an Opals team-mate that included Bendigo’s legendary guard Kristi Harrower.
The Phillips family links to Aussie Rules are incredibly strong and successful.
Erin’s father, Greg was an eight-time premiership winner with Port Adelaide and centre half-back in the Magpies’ ‘Greatest Team 1870 to 2000’.
Greg also played 84 matches for Collingwood between 1983 and ’86 and is in the AFL Hall of Fame.
These days Erin is part of Channel Seven’s footy coverage.
Marong coaches David Blume and Jimmy Evenden have a tough task in deciding where Phillips will play on Sunday.
It’s been a tough debut season for Marong in the CVFL.
A highlight was the 76-6 victory against the Winslow White Hills Demons at White Hills in the 10th round.
Panthers’ captain Dani Jeffery kicked four goals and Emily Campbell-Smith added two as Marong hit a season-high tally of 11 goals.
Jeffery was best afield as Katrina Alford, Cody Clark, Emily Campbell-Smith, Bianca Bourke and Steph Dawson led the way to an historic victory.
Massive test this Sunday against Golden Square which has a win-loss record of nine-one and is second in the premiership race.
A key target in attack for the Nathan Manuel-coached Golden Square is Paynton Jolliffe who leads the league’s goalkicking race on 58 goals.
Players representing the blue and gold at Marong include captain Liz Watkins, Carly Geary, Sarah Mannes, Molly Forde, Claire Picone and Ava Barker.
The Bulldogs will be back on the field on Friday, July 12 to play the unbeaten Castlemaine at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street from 7.15pm.
Matches on July 14 to complete the 13th round will start at 1pm.
Eaglehawk faces North Bendigo at Canterbury Park, Bendigo Thunder takes on Marong at Weeroona Oval, and Woorinen is at home to face Winslow White Hills Demons.
Sandhurst has the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 858 per cent, 44 points; Golden Square 975, 36; Woorinen 243, 28; Eaglehawk 148, 28; Sandhurst 178, 24; Bendigo Thunder 50, 16; White Hills 14, 8; North Bendigo 13, 4; Marong 7, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
58 Paynton Jolliffe, Golden Square.
39 Brydi Lewis, Woorinen.
33 Chelsea Reeves, Sandhurst.
30 Samantha Johnston, Woorinen.
29 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
29 Taylah Moore, Golden Square.
28 Amanda Carrod, Sandhurst.
24 Tiffany Bradley, Castlemaine.
23 Tenay Fellows, Woorinen.
22 Molly Metcalf, Eaglehawk.
20 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
20 Rachael Stubbings, Castlemaine.
19 Isabella Ayre, Golden Square.
19 Lily Campbell, Sandhurst.
17 Brianna Burt, Castlemaine.
16 Jenna Bannam, Woorinen.
16 Courtney Wakefield, Woorinen.
16 Victoria Winstanley, Golden Square.
15 Lacey Nihill, Sandhurst.
11 Courtney Hingston, Golden Square.
11 Maeve Tupper, Castlemaine.
10 Jaime Sawers, Bendigo Thunder.
10 Aisling Tupper, Castlemaine.