Will Phillips (footballer)

Will Phillips (born 22 May 2002) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by with the 3rd draft pick in the 2020 AFL draft.

Early football
Phillips began his junior career playing for the Beverley Hills Football Club in the Yarra Junior Football League, where he played over 100 games from the Auskick to the Under 15s division. He played school football for his school, Caulfield Grammar School, and was named as a co-captain of the school in his senior year. 2018 saw Phillips take out the most valuable player award in the AFL Under 16 championships. Phillips played for the Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League in 2018 and 2019, playing a total of 15 games over the two seasons. He averaged 22 disposals in his 2019 season, and played a vital part in their grand final win, kicking 2 goals.

AFL career
Phillips debuted for in the team's loss to the  in the 3rd round of the 2021 AFL season. On debut, Phillips was relatively quiet, collecting 9 disposals, 2 marks and 2 tackles.

Phillips did not play at AFL level in 2022 due to glandular fever, and only managed 3 VFL games.

Phillips returned in the 1st round of the 2023 season as the substitute in North Melbourne's win over West Coast, coming on to the field in the 1st quarter to replace ruckman Tristan Xerri. In round 3, Phillips was selected in the starting team for his first full game of the season. In an appearance on the Sunday Footy Show in April, Phillips commented on the booing of former teammate Jason Horne-Francis by AFL fans, stating "it's probably unfair for other teams to do that, but understandable for North Melbourne fans". He polled AFL Coaches' Association Champion Player of the Year Award for his 27 disposal, 8 clearance game against Essendon in Round 12, and ultimately played 16 games for the year.

Statistics

 * Statistics are correct to the end of round 3, 2021.

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2021 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2022 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2023 ! colspan=3| Career ! 32 ! 6 ! 6 ! 184 ! 269 ! 453 ! 59 ! 99 ! 0.19 ! 0.19 ! 5.75 ! 8.41 ! 14.16 ! 1.84 ! 3.09
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * 29 || 16 || 3 || 4 || 71 || 81 || 152 || 31 || 33 || 0.19 || 0.25 || 4.44 || 5.06 || 9.5 || 1.94 || 2.06
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * 29 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * 29 || 16 || 3 || 2 || 113 || 188 || 301 || 28 || 66 || 0.19 || 0.13 || 7.06 || 11.75 || 18.81 || 1.75 || 4.13
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * }