Leadership and spirit lead AUL co-founder to MVP honours

Melbourne Flames star and co-founder of the Australian Ultimate League Cat Phillips has been awarded the Davis Medal as female MVP for the 2019 season.

The Flames were defending champions this season but faced early adversity with the loss of star players Georgia Egan-Griffiths and Tom Tullett.

They needed players to step up and the ever-reliable Phillips played a key role for Melbourne in all facets of the game.

Phillips was a complete team player and finished with 15 assists for the season, the third-highest of any player and the most of any female player in the league.

She also finished with four goals and two blocks, as well as a raft of intangible efforts like her ongoing spirit and leadership for the Flames.

Phillips was humbled to receive the award and pointed to the strong efforts of women across all teams in the AUL as proof of the league’s success.

“Seeing the league grow over the last two years has been an absolute privilege,” she said.

“The women of the AUL are powerful, impactful and inspiring, and it is a real honour to be recognised amongst this group of players.

“The Melbourne Flames are what the AUL is all about. We’re a team based on trust, with all players contributing and playing a significant role on and off the field.

“This is something that I have really enjoyed during my two years with the Flames.”

Phillips joins inaugural Davis Medal winner Alex Prentice as recipients of the award.

The Davis Medal is named after Professor Tamara Davis who has been a pioneer for Ultimate in Australia and is also one of the most cited academics in the world in the field of cosmology.

She continues to inspire as co-coach of the Brisbane Breakers, linking with Yew Eng Ng to guide the Queensland side to the AUL grand final against the Sydney Suns this season.

“Tam Davis is as good as they come in terms of role models,” Phillips said.