“We’re really proud of the way you’re going about it … Ed Phillips, well done.”
And with that, senior coach Alan Richardson confirmed what the budding midfielder has been patiently waiting for since he arrived at St Kilda: his chance on the big stage.
Saints look to bounce back in Perth
The 20-year-old has put together a string of impressive VFL form, racking up 32 touches against Port Melbourne in Round 3 before backing it up with a 37-disposal standout showing at Box Hill.
Phillips was taken at pick No. 56 in the 2016 draft, but the athletic midfielder has been forced to wait in the wings while fellow 2016 draftees Ben Long and Josh Battle have received their opportunity at senior level.
The younger brother of Collingwood’s Tom Phillips will become the 1592nd player to don the famous red, white and black when he runs out on Saturday night, and senior coach Alan Richardson said his long-awaited opportunity is well-deserved.
“I reckon there’d be a strong case to argue that this bloke’s probably our most in-form player,” Richardson said.
“You’ve embraced whatever’s been asked of you. You’ve become someone that the leaders now trust and they’re really looking forward to playing with you.”
Get your Halo On for 2018
Known internally as “The King”, Phillips gets his chance against a Dockers outfit smarting from a 77-point thrashing at the hands of Richmond at the MCG.
But in contrast, Fremantle’s home form has been ominous in 2018, so Phillips and the Saints will need to replicate their extraordinary efforts in the same fixture last year when they ran away 9-point winners in a thriller.
