The Port Adelaide Football Club is delighted to announce Lauren Arnell as the club’s inaugural AFLW head coach.
Arnell, who played five seasons of AFLW for Carlton and Brisbane, has been the head coach of the Brisbane Lions Academy since 2020.
Prior to the AFLW competition commencing in 2017, Arnell was a three-time All-Australian whilst representing the Darebin Falcons Football Club in the VWFL.
Arnell was appointed inaugural captain of Carlton’s AFLW team in 2017 and was a member of the Brisbane Lions premiership team in 2021.
Port Adelaide Head of AFLW Juliet Haslam said Arnell’s appointment was a significant day in the history of the Port Adelaide Football Club.
“Today is a special day for our Club as we announce the first AFLW coach in Port Adelaide’s remarkable 152-year history,” Ms Haslam said.
“The name Lauren Arnell will forever sit on our club’s honour board as our first ever AFLW coach, a recognition and achievement that cannot be underestimated.
“Lauren will continue the proud legacy of women playing an important role in driving our club forward.”
Ms Haslam said Arnell’s skillset and expertise was a standout throughout the recruitment process.
“Lauren was incredibly impressive throughout the interview process. Her presentation skills are first class and her passion for football and eagerness to develop others was clearly evident.
“Lauren comes to Port Adelaide with great experience as a premiership player at the Brisbane Lions, whilst also serving as head coach of the Brisbane Lions Academy.
“Lauren also designed and delivered the AFL She Can Coach scholarship program in Victoria to invest in the development of the next wave of talented female coaches.
“She has spent ten years working as a teacher whilst also forging a career as a television and radio commentator on AFL and AFLW games across the last two years.
“Lauren lives for football and loves teaching and developing others. She is an outstanding person, possessing admirable leadership qualities which align with our club’s values.
“We proudly welcome Lauren to the Port Adelaide Football Club family.”
Arnell, who was awarded the AFL Coaching Association Scholarship in 2019, is both humbled and excited to be Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFLW coach.
“It is a privilege to be appointed Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFLW coach and an opportunity I am very much looking forward to,” Ms Arnell said.
“The history of success at Port Adelaide and the expectations that come with this are not lost on me. It’s what has drawn me to this club. I want be part of something great and I can already see we are building something special within our AFLW program.
“I look forward to working with Juliet Haslam, Rachael Sporn and Naomi Maidment to develop a program that guides and mentors the next generation of AFLW talent.
“I’m also excited by the Club’s progressive, bold vision, including the transformation of the Alberton Oval precinct and the role that our AFLW program will play in shaping the Port Adelaide Football Club of the future.
“Our female athletes will enjoy world class training facilities and will provide future generations of young girls and women a pathway to represent Port Adelaide on the national stage.
“To be the first AFLW coach in a club that is more than 150 years old is truly humbling and I can’t wait for our team to write their own chapter in Port Adelaide’s rich history of success.”
Arnell will officially commence on Monday 2 May.
Lauren Arnell biography
- Three-time All-Australian
- AFLW Player, Carlton 2017-2018 and Brisbane Lions 2019-2021
- Inaugural Captain Carlton FC, 2017
- Brisbane Lions AFLW premiership player 2021
- 36 AFLW games across five seasons
- Head Coach, Brisbane Lions Academy 2020 – 2022
- AFLCA Coaching Scholarship with Brett Ratten mentoring 2019
- Design and implementation of AFL She Can Coach program
- AFLW Competition Committee 2018 – 2021
- AFLPA Advisory Board 2016 – 2021
