Crows co-captain Erin Phillips has become the first Australian Rules footballer in 50 years to win the SA Sports Star of the Year Award.
Phillips earned the honour on Friday night at the South Australian Sport Awards dinner held at Adelaide Oval.
The last footballer to win the award was Glenelg full forward Fred Phillis in 1969.
Phillips won the award ahead of nominees Megan Schutt (cricket), Kyle Chalmers (swimming), Rohan Dennis, Annette Edmondson, Stephanie Morton, Alex Manly and Alex Porter (all cycling).
With Phillips still residing in the United States, the award was accepted on her behalf by her dad Greg.
Phillips sent in a video which was played on the night, where she said it was an honour to win the award previously won by athletes such as Lleyton Hewitt, Anna Meares, Jess Trengove, Chalmers and Sam Willoughby.
"We've had so many sports legends win this award, I've looked up to the likes of Trengove and Meares so to be on the list with them, my mind blown away, I'm grateful and thankful," Phillips said.
"I'd like to thank the coaches, players, families and extended babysitters, I can't wait to get back and start with you girls.
"I love turning up to see you all and thank you for making Tracy and my family welcome and part of team.
"Thanks to my family, mum and dad, who gave me the opportunity to play football from a young age, I always wanted to play sport and in particular football, who would have thought at the right old age of 31 I'd get the chance.
"Tracy, thanks for letting me live my dream, hopefully after this ACL it wil all be smooth sailing for us.
"Being a South Aussie, this is something I'm so, so proud of."
The Crows AFLW team was also celebrated at the event, with the premiership winners being crowned the Team of the Year.
It’s the second time the Crows AFLW team has won the award, having also earned the prestigious honour after the inaugural premiership in 2017.
Co-captain Chelsea Randall and Sarah Allan accepted the award on the teams’ behalf.
In the third award for the night, Crows draftee Montana McKinnon was crowned the Junior Sports Star of the Year after winning the SANFLW premiership with South Adelaide and being named All-Australianat the National Championships.
