How so? The quality and depth in women's football has improved dramatically in the last 7 years. My suggestion is entirely plausible.
So want to base this discussion on one game?
The Erin v Daisy Debate!
- Thread starter Teen Wolf
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Teen Wolf
Norm Smith Medallist
- Jul 5, 2011
- 8,152
- 8,991
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Afghanistan women's cricket team
- Thread starter
- #52
By your logic, Dawn Fraser was just an average swimmer because the top women today do the 100m freestyle about 10 seconds faster.
But your suggestion is even dumber than that, because there are like 3 current AFLW players (probably zero in the leagues below) who can kick off their opposite foot as well as Pearce could.
How about we base the discussion on reality. And yes, that one game in itself emphatically counters your claim that Pearce was "an average footballer". Could say the same for just about any game she played, even very late in her career, like this one:
18 months, really. Hatchard's transformation from big-bodied defender/backup ruck into extremely fit midfielder occurred between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
To be fair, she was a bit smaller in 2018, but the bulk of the weight loss came after that season. From memory, she came into 2019 around 8kg lighter than her initial draft weight.
Last edited:
Teen Wolf
Norm Smith Medallist
- Jul 5, 2011
- 8,152
- 8,991
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Afghanistan women's cricket team
- Thread starter
- #56
Daisy Pearce Trophy awarded to Melbourne Best and Fairest
Daisy Pearce Trophy awarded to Melbourne Best and Fairest
Maybe the Crows would've done the same for Erin if she didn't finish up at Port Adelaide, rather than just granting her life membership last night. Nevertheless the acrobatics last week by the AFL--bringing her up on stage before the game to thank North Melbourne and Brisbane supporters, rather than simply naming the grand final BOG after her--was very weird.
Tandy
Norm Smith Medallist
I just find it hard to compare them. Mainly because daisy did the bulk of her career in the VFLW. And Phillips didn't really play the game for over 10 yrs.
Who achieved the most in football -Daisy
Who achieved the most at AFLW level -phillips
More skill and higher footy IQ - daisy
Better forward -phillips
Better mid - Daisy
Better leader - daisy
Better defender - daisy would be a HBF, less physical but would set up play better. Phillips ability to be key position but also burst out of defence. Would probably blow up after awhile.
Who has done more to grow the game - 50/50 split. Maybe daisy due to the length of time playing the game in and around Melbourne. But if on a national level, Phillips
If they both had the opportunity to play AFLW from 18yrs old who would be the better player -probably the real question and it's too tough to tell but just personally I'd choice daisy. I think her VFLW football would have been better than what Phillips achieved at AFLW level
Who achieved the most in football -Daisy
Who achieved the most at AFLW level -phillips
More skill and higher footy IQ - daisy
Better forward -phillips
Better mid - Daisy
Better leader - daisy
Better defender - daisy would be a HBF, less physical but would set up play better. Phillips ability to be key position but also burst out of defence. Would probably blow up after awhile.
Who has done more to grow the game - 50/50 split. Maybe daisy due to the length of time playing the game in and around Melbourne. But if on a national level, Phillips
If they both had the opportunity to play AFLW from 18yrs old who would be the better player -probably the real question and it's too tough to tell but just personally I'd choice daisy. I think her VFLW football would have been better than what Phillips achieved at AFLW level
John Cahill (10x SANFL premiership coach) said that Erin Phillips was the best 14 year old footballer he had ever seen -
I think if the two had equal access from the same age to elite pathways and training, Erin would have come out well on top
Tandy
Norm Smith Medallist
Yeh I've heard he said that. He's obviously accomplished and knows football but I just dunno if he really thinks that's true. I reckon he just got a bit carried away. Better than alot of the boys of the same age yep I can see that. But best..ever.. But yes anyone saying Phillips wouldn't be wrong. There's no wrong.
- Aug 12, 2017
- 4,066
- 7,307
- AFL Club
- GWS
I like Erin …, less bleeding from the ears
Jock1eyemcpie
Team Captain
- Apr 11, 2024
- 341
- 253
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Erin Phillips was better then daisy
- Jun 12, 2018
- 4,339
- 8,258
- AFL Club
- Fremantle
I think I could compete with daisy
I think Erin would have the wood on me on the footy field.
I think Erin would have the wood on me on the footy field.
T2B_
The Avo King
- Feb 13, 2011
- 50,577
- 85,797
- AFL Club
- Carlton
- Other Teams
- Tasmania Devils, Dragons FFC
Erin for mine, as good as Daisy was.
T2B_
The Avo King
- Feb 13, 2011
- 50,577
- 85,797
- AFL Club
- Carlton
- Other Teams
- Tasmania Devils, Dragons FFC
I wish we got to see a prime age Erin in an AFLW system. And while you wouldn't want her up against some of the brutes in the AFL mens league, I reckon she could have been a contributor and held her own in a side if somehow she got to run around in a men's team, she was a freak athlete.
I don't even think this is an argument from a pure AFLW perspective
Erin Phillips was the woman on a dominant team.
She was the best player on the best team women's football has seen
Daisy was a pioneer and a legend and deserves all her flowers but when it comes to AFLW she is a fair way behind Erin Phillips
Erin Phillips was the woman on a dominant team.
She was the best player on the best team women's football has seen
Daisy was a pioneer and a legend and deserves all her flowers but when it comes to AFLW she is a fair way behind Erin Phillips
Teen Wolf
Norm Smith Medallist
- Jul 5, 2011
- 8,152
- 8,991
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Afghanistan women's cricket team
- Thread starter
- #67
Melbourne were a dominant team too. They won more games than any other club during Pearce's time.
And while the premiership tally says Adelaide were more dominant, the club B&F tally says Pearce was more of a standout at Melbourne than Phillips was at the Crows.
There's also 2017 State of Origin and the 2013-16 exhibition games, which belong under the category of AFLW more than anything else, and where Pearce was invariably the best player on the best team.
I'm not dismissing Daisy's accomplishments.
She was a pioneer and deserves all her flowers as I stated.
But when I talk AFLW I do generally mean since the inception of the competition.
I am not going to say a person is wrong if they prefer Daisy. Her longevity as well as being a pioneer deserve a lot of praise and respect.
I am just saying in my opinion since the inception of the AFLW competition Erin was a better footballer
Teen Wolf
Norm Smith Medallist
- Jul 5, 2011
- 8,152
- 8,991
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Afghanistan women's cricket team
- Thread starter
- #69
I suspect Pearce's early end to her prime AFLW years as a result of pregnancy has created a revised narrative about her not being the best player across the first two seasons in toto.
Consider the MVP poll conducted on this board during the 2017 season, collated from 125 ballots:
So... the people of the day had pre-twins Pearce ahead of pre-ACL Phillips, even though I personally went the other way with my votes:
| Club | Player | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | TOTAL |
| ADEL | E Phillips | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | ||
| MELB | D Pearce | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | ||
| FREM | K Donnellan | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | ||||
| BRIS | S Frederick-Traub | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | ||||
| MELB | K Paxman | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | |||
| BRIS | E Bates | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
Cdog71
Premiership Player
- Sep 21, 2017
- 4,854
- 10,879
- AFL Club
- Richmond
I remember Pearce talking about how she played U/14’s with Ben Reid how they both played as Fwds and she scored more goals than him in the last season before they stopped her playing.
There’s the arguement that Phillips dropped directly into a higher level competing against the best in the country which wasn’t the case for Pearce and the early Trail blazers (Moana Hope first 100 goal season in the VFL a marquee signing etc)
But I think for Pearce to have never been in a high preformance enviroment like Phillips was for years before changing codes shows that Pearce is the more natural footballer and shows in the way she was great at following the ball, fwd or as a defender.
I think Phillips was more difficult to deal with and defend and could probably play at a higher level as a mid/fwd being more explosive.
Both pretty special players.
If it was the school yard pick to play a game…I’d probably pick Phillips because I want the I50 and shots on goal
There’s the arguement that Phillips dropped directly into a higher level competing against the best in the country which wasn’t the case for Pearce and the early Trail blazers (Moana Hope first 100 goal season in the VFL a marquee signing etc)
But I think for Pearce to have never been in a high preformance enviroment like Phillips was for years before changing codes shows that Pearce is the more natural footballer and shows in the way she was great at following the ball, fwd or as a defender.
I think Phillips was more difficult to deal with and defend and could probably play at a higher level as a mid/fwd being more explosive.
Both pretty special players.
If it was the school yard pick to play a game…I’d probably pick Phillips because I want the I50 and shots on goal
