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Inside and Out
Inside Out is the inspiring memoir from one of Australia’s all-time sporting champions: AFLW icon and basketball legend Erin Phillips.
‘When I was born, people felt sorry for my dad because he didn’t have a son to play footy someday.’
The AFLW changed the face of Australian sport forever, and Erin Phillips was the face of that change. Formerly a champion basketballer, born to Port Adelaide Football Club icon Greg Phillips, Erin’s success on the footy field was no surprise to anyone who has followed her remarkable career on the court. Now at the end of her professional sporting career, the final two years of which were spent at her father’s old club, Erin candidly looks back at her astonishing playing journey and her life so far.
Follow Erin as she recounts her sporting successes – two WNBA championships, two AFLW premierships with the Adelaide Crows – and her setbacks – Olympic disappointment with the Opals, injury strife and her long road to playing professional football. In this honest and revealing memoir Erin also moves beyond the field and court as she uncovers the challenges she has faced from all sides, from dealing with body image to discovering her sexuality.
Inside Out is a story about love, about family, about being okay in your own skin, and most of all, about playing by your own rules.
‘When I was born, people felt sorry for my dad because he didn’t have a son to play footy someday.’
The AFLW changed the face of Australian sport forever, and Erin Phillips was the face of that change. Formerly a champion basketballer, born to Port Adelaide Football Club icon Greg Phillips, Erin’s success on the footy field was no surprise to anyone who has followed her remarkable career on the court. Now at the end of her professional sporting career, the final two years of which were spent at her father’s old club, Erin candidly looks back at her astonishing playing journey and her life so far.
Follow Erin as she recounts her sporting successes – two WNBA championships, two AFLW premierships with the Adelaide Crows – and her setbacks – Olympic disappointment with the Opals, injury strife and her long road to playing professional football. In this honest and revealing memoir Erin also moves beyond the field and court as she uncovers the challenges she has faced from all sides, from dealing with body image to discovering her sexuality.
Inside Out is a story about love, about family, about being okay in your own skin, and most of all, about playing by your own rules.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2025
12 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 14, 2025
I absolutely love Erin and this just made me love her even more 💜
October 1, 2025
An incredible book on a powerful woman who is such an inspiration.
There were a number of things that really tore at the heart including:
*For all girls in Australia at a certain time, turning 13 meant they were unable to play Aussie Rules. It was a national regulation dictated that girls couldn't continue to play with boys or in a 'mixed' team. And there weren't any girls teams to join either.
*Her dad was always so proud to be a father of girls and he made it clear that NOTHING was missing in his life. This reminded me of my own dad who was often asked about 'trying' for a boy. Not realising, as always, the drama that my parents had gone through just to have my sister and I. That mum had been told that further children may not be possible.
*The fear of growing breasts and having your period for the first time, the idea that these would get in the way of her sport. This is something I had gone through as a ballet dancer, wearing a bra under your leotard or worried about leaking. This was before the technology that dancewear has now as well as the safety of period undies.
Australian sport fans, especially Aussie Rules and young girls everywhere, should read this.
There were a number of things that really tore at the heart including:
*For all girls in Australia at a certain time, turning 13 meant they were unable to play Aussie Rules. It was a national regulation dictated that girls couldn't continue to play with boys or in a 'mixed' team. And there weren't any girls teams to join either.
*Her dad was always so proud to be a father of girls and he made it clear that NOTHING was missing in his life. This reminded me of my own dad who was often asked about 'trying' for a boy. Not realising, as always, the drama that my parents had gone through just to have my sister and I. That mum had been told that further children may not be possible.
*The fear of growing breasts and having your period for the first time, the idea that these would get in the way of her sport. This is something I had gone through as a ballet dancer, wearing a bra under your leotard or worried about leaking. This was before the technology that dancewear has now as well as the safety of period undies.
Australian sport fans, especially Aussie Rules and young girls everywhere, should read this.
June 23, 2025
very inspiring. i feel that hearing such powerful and inspiring stories and words from a female, makes the world seem much more alive. too many people dont understand how hard it is living in a situation that is very misunderstood. 100% recommend!
May 1, 2025
Legend. Very open and honest! Learnt a lot about basketball too
June 8, 2025
An excellent illustration of the genre, odd in that it covers two sports and an entire career. An inspiring career and splashes of political and sociocultural insights to keep things interesting.
October 12, 2025
You always think that talented people live perfect lives, but that’s rarely the case. My admiration for Erin Phillips has risen dramatically knowing her full story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews