REIGNING competition best and fairest Erin Phillips will return to Adelaide for the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s season. And in a coup for the AFL, Phillips has agreed to take up a role as a high performance coach working with the country’s best junior players.

Phillips was a star for the Crows in the inaugural AFLW season, co-captaining the club to the premiership, winning the club best and fairest, the AFLPA MVP and the Coates Hire Goal of the Year awards. She was also named vice-captain of the Virgin Australia AFLW All Australian team.

"Last season was truly a dream come true, so to be able to stay at Adelaide is fantastic. I really couldn’t imagine playing with any other team," Phillips said.

The 32-year-old dual-sport star recently retired from the WNBA in the United States after being waived by the Dallas Wings. Phillips has won two WNBA titles, a World Championship gold medal, a Commonwealth Games gold medal and an Olympic Games silver medal playing for the Australian Opals.

"I’m looking forward to giving my body a rest and spending time with my family in Dallas before returning to Australia refreshed and ready to take on the second season of the AFLW."

AFL football operations general manager Simon Lethlean said Phillips’ experience in elite-level sport would be invaluable.

"We are very excited Erin has chosen to help prepare future AFL and AFLW stars … she will be working closely with the boys and girls’ academies and will attend selected camps, mentor players and work with other coaches," Lethlean said.

Phillips will start her AFL role later this year.