Arnell addresses the players during Round 9. Image: AFL Photos.

Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell reflected on the growth her team has shown despite a tough loss to Brisbane in Round 9, highlighting the growing maturity of her young side.  

Speaking to the media at Alberton, Arnell also celebrated the significance of Pride Round, discussing the impact of inclusion and community in sport, the standout seasons of Ash Woodland and Matilda Scholz, and how she is preparing the group for Friday night footy.  

Tickets for Port Adelaide’s Pride Round clash against Hawthorn are on sale now.  

Arnell on preparing for Hawthorn 
“Every game in AFLW is do or die, we’re three quarters of the way through our season, so it’s very important. We’re coming up against a team who came into the competition at the same time as us and a team I think we’ve already built a pretty decent rivalry with early days, so very much looking forward to it. 

“It’s (Round 10) is certainly important. But how we go about things has been front of mind certainly since day one of preseason for us, and how we show up and how we continue to show growth in each game is important, and I think if we’re able to do that, the process will look after the results for us.” 

“Hawthorn have shown plenty of promise. They’ve obviously got a couple injury challenges as well at the moment, so I think Lucy Wales is an important part of their side. We see Tilly Lucas-Rodd getting a fair bit of footy off half back for them, and Jasmine Fleming’s been incredible player this season as well. So, there’s couple players there you keep an eye on. But we’ve got some recent history against them in the finals last year, where they were no doubt the strongest side across four quarters, and we were able to piece together a really dominant last quarter against them. So, we also take learning out of that game.” 

Arnell on reviewing the Round 9 loss to Brisbane 
“As much as the scoreboard says one thing, we’ve seen some significant growth in our group, and certainly through the telly in South Australia, you don’t see how hot and humid those conditions are. So as much as the scoreboard blew out, I thought our group was really strong and pushed the Lions to play the best footy they’ve played this year. The score did blow out towards back end of that game, which we’ve seen happen a number of times this season, but I was really pleased with the way our group went about it, and that’s been a core part of what we’re doing this year – how we go about things, not just the results. We’d love the results to have been going different ways for us this year so far, but certainly the method and how we show up for each other has been really impressive, particularly against the Lions – we’ve learned plenty.” 

Arnell on Piper Window’s concussion and cheekbone injury 
“Piper (Window) unfortunately had pretty significant head knock, so the concussion is one thing, and also had to have surgery on a fractured cheekbone. She’s had a really rough run this season between syndesmosis surgery from an early injury in Round 1, almost the re-injury of the syndesmosis a couple weeks ago, and now the fractured cheekbone – probably couldn’t have been a worse year for her – and she’s been really resilient. I’m feeling for her.” 

Arnell on Abbey Dowrick’s quad injury 
“Abbey’s (Dowrick) looking really good, so that is that’s massive positive for us. If the Lions game had been a final, we may have pushed her. She certainly just needed a short week to get that right; she’s looking really good.” 

Arnell on Pride Round 
“Pride Round is incredible, I think, not just for our team, but also for AFLW and you’ve seen some incredible content across all clubs and even AFL women’s this week. If anything, it just highlights the importance of inclusion and how much sport can do for society. I think it’s a really special time to celebrate that.” 

Arnell on Julia Teakle’s foot rehabilitation progress 
“We’re hoping Julia (Teakle) will play (this season). She’s still got a couple of boxes to tick, but she’s certainly getting it right towards the back end of the year for us.” 

In Round 9, Ash Woodland became the first AFLW player this season to record more than 10 inside 50s in a single match, as she recorded 11. Image: AFL Photos.

Arnell on Ash Woodland and Matilda Scholz’s seasons so far 
“I don’t think Ash’s (Woodland) season should be underrated, and the group around her as well. Matilda’s (Scholz) has come on in leaps and bounds, and I was pretty bullish post-game, and I’ll continue to say it – she should be in the conversation for an All-Australian. I don’t think there’s been a better ruck so far this year, and certainly a ruck that can hit the scoreboard. 

“But for Ash, she’s someone who’s been league leading goal kicker in a past life, still only mid-20s, and taken on enormous responsibility as an important midfielder for us and continues to get better each week – I’m really pleased for her. She certainly had a game face on pre-game against the Lions, and you could see there was a big game coming. I’m looking forward to seeing how she uses that as a platform in the back end of this year, and a shout out to the midfielders around her as well. There’s enormous promise for our group, and Ash is at the forefront of that.” 

Arnell on playing Friday night footy at Alberton 
“We can’t wait. I think our group loves Friday night games, or night games on any day. And the last time we played here was against the Dogs in a night game as well. I’m looking forward to having our people get around us again, Pride Round Friday night at Alberton, and looking like nice night for it weather wise.”