A strong mark of the ball, Phillips was St Kilda's best and fairest in 1930.

In early March 1933 he was appointed to the role of Hawthorn captain-coach[6] but by the time the season began a few weeks later he had died from blood poisoning caused by an elbow cut.

[9] Victoria beat South Australia by 8 points — 12.20 (92) to 12.12 (84 — and Phillips was one of the best on the ground;[10] and, along with Richmond's Frank Titus, he scored three goals.

[12][13] The prevailing view is that he died from blood poisoning, caused by the (toxic) dye from his Hawthorn jumper running into a cut on his elbow.

[4] Phillips was buried on Monday, 24 April 1933 at the Melbourne General Cemetery.