Phillips polled in all but one match during the home-and-away series to finish on 14 votes, four ahead of Western Bulldogs’ Ellie Blackburn and Melbourne’s Karen Paxman who each polled 10 votes.

Fremantle’s Lara Filocamo was fourth with nine votes.

Three best-on-ground performances in the first four rounds saw Phillips emerge as the clear leader during the count, before polling two votes in Round 6 and Round 7 to secure the inaugural Best and Fairest Medal.

After putting her WNBA career with the Dallas Wings on hold, the 31-year-old quickly emerged as one of the standout players in the NAB AFL Women’s Competition.

Averaging 20 possessions a game and finishing with 10 goals, Phillips capped a remarkable season by winning the Best on Ground Medal in Saturday’s Grand Final.

The daughter of Port Adelaide champion Greg Phillips, Phillips produced some of the most memorable moments of the inaugural season, regularly kicking big goals when her team needed them most.

LEAD IMAGE: Erin Phillips of the Crows (left) and wife Tracy Gahan kiss after Phillips was announced as the inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest winner during the The W Awards at the Peninsula on March 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia.