Jack Marx
NIKKI Phillips had a day out in her 100th game for Central Broken Hill Football Club last Saturday, kicking eight goals and three behinds in her team’s 13.9 (87) to 0.0 (0) win over Wests at Jubilee Oval.
It was a mighty effort by the 46 year old, but she modestly deflected praise toward her coach, Sheldon Hall.
“He put me up at full forward, so I had the goal pretty much to myself,” Phillips said.
“He’s had me on the wing for a fair bit lately, but at my age I can’t do the wing or the middle of the ground anymore. It’s a bit hard on the old body.”
That old body served Phillips’ team well on Saturday, booting a score equal to her personal best for Central, with whom she’s played for her entire eight-year career, “because dad played for Central”.
Phillips insisted, however, that the score could have been even greater.
“It should have been nine goals, but the ref got me for holding the ball,” she said.
“I actually got out of the tackle but he blew the whistle too early, I think even he’d admit that.
“I turned and kicked it through, but got pinged for holding. But for that, Saturday would’ve been my personal best.
“I also took a really good mark at one point, but missed when I kicked for goal. That would have topped off the day.”
As it was, the day didn’t turn out too badly, and while Phillips surprised herself with her haul, her teammates were not particularly shocked.
“I hadn’t been up forward for a while, so a lot of people before the game said I’d get a bag of goals,” she said.
“I thought I’d get one or two, maybe three, but I didn’t expect to get eight.”
It was a day that would only get better for Phillips.
“We went back to the club afterwards and celebrated,” she said. “I won best player, too. It was a good day.”
Despite admitting she sometimes feels like she’s “86, not 46”, Phillips has no plans to retire.
“Nah, not yet,” she said. “So long as I’m still walking, I can kick.”
