Former AFLW great Erin Phillips has been crowned as the winner of the 2024 Fujitsu General Australia Football Woman of the Year award.
Announced during the Fujitsu General Australia Grand Final Comedy Roast at Crown Palladium on Thursday afternoon, Phillips was honoured for her outstanding contributions to women’s sport over a decorated professional career.
In addition to her on-field legacy as a three-time AFLW premiership player and two-time league best and fairest, the former WNBA champion has paved the way for a new generation of aspiring female athletes as a pioneer for women’s football.
Phillips was grateful to be recognised with the Essendon Women's Network achievement.
"I am so incredibly honoured and humbled to receive this award and even to be up with the nominees for this award who all do such incredible work in their fields and industries," Phillips said.
"I'm incredibly lucky to be working in a sport that is my passion. Football has always been something close to my heart and is pretty much in my DNA. So waking up every day and making sure I continue to build this game and inspire the young people to go on and play AFLW is something that means so much to me."
A keen off-field ambassador for the sport, Phillips was also nominated for her social presence and willingness to support other AFLW players exposed to social media vitriol.
The 39-year-old is set to donate the award's prize money to her childhood junior football club and cover the girls' registration fees for 2025.
"I get to do my passion and something I am incredibly lucky to do is coach my daughter's under-10's football team, which is actually at my junior club at SMOSH West Lakes," Phillips said.
"The money I have won will go towards the 2025 fees and all the equipment and anything to ensure they are well supported."
Alongside Phillips, Northcote Junior Football Club President Kellie Burns was named the 2024 Community Award winner for her tireless commitment to developing pathways for junior girls' players in the district.
Also serving as the head of Girls' Football Development at the club, Burns is a strong role model for her community and a staunch advocate for women's sport in the junior space. She has a big impact on her club and the wider area.
"I really just want to see any girl or woman, in any capacity, be their best. I really believe that anyone has the capacity to be their best more than they know and I see it all the time through my daughters and all of the girls who play for our club," Burns said.
"Seeing them do something that wasn't open to their mother's or grandmother's, and to see them learn so much about themselves, is incredible.
"I believe that everyone has an amazing potential, and particularly in football, there's such a focus on what boys and men can do. To have the girls involved and provide the opportunity for girls who live in Northcote and District, is something I will always fight for. Everyone deserves a safe space to come and football should always be that forum."
See the full list of nominees for the awards below.
Football Woman of the Year
Erin Phillips (winner) – AFLW commentator, former AFLW and WNBA champion
Alex Morcom – Essendon AFLW player
Marnie Vinall – Sports reporter at The Age
Tanya Gallina – General Manager Commercial Operations and Partnerships at MCC
Bec Daniher – Campaign Director at FightMND
Chris Summers – Partnerships Accounts Manager at West Coast Eagles
Community Award
Kellie Burns (winner) – Northcote Junior Football Club
Sharlene Higginson – Merrifield Panthers Football Club
Ella Stephenson – Monash Blues Women’s
Deanne Coates - Melville Dockers, West Coast Eagles AFLW
