GROWING up on a cattle farm northwest of Melbourne, Port Adelaide AFLW senior coach Lauren Arnell dreamed of donning green and gold on the international basketball scene.

"All I wanted to do was play for the Opals until I realised I was very slow and couldn’t shoot overly well,’’ Arnell said.

"Basketball was my sport and I didn’t know that women’s footy existed until I moved out of home when I was 17.’’

Eighteen years later, Arnell will guide the development of the club’s inaugural AFLW list alongside Australian basketball icon and three-time Olympic medallist Rachael Sporn.

The duo rounds out the off-field senior leadership team after the earlier appointments of Head of AFLW, Juliet Haslam - a dual Olympic gold medallist and Hockeyroo - and experienced coach-turned-list-manager Naomi Maidment.

"They are three incredible women who know their stuff and together I think we are going to create a really strong team to build the rest of the program around,’’ Arnell said.

The 35-year-old called time on her 36-game playing career in 2021, having been part of every AFLW season since the national league began in 2017.

She honed her skills at Ballarat, and the Darebin Falcons in the Victorian Women’s Football League, before stints at the Western Bulldogs, Carlton and the Brisbane Lions.

In joining Port Adelaide, Arnell becomes the AFLW’s first past player to graduate to AFLW senior coach, and just the fifth female appointed to the top job across the competition.

"I am very aware that the club is pushing towards more diversity and inclusion across the community and that’s something that really appeals to me,’’ she said.

For all her success, including a premiership with the Brisbane Lions, captaincy at Carlton, and three-time All-Australian selection, Arnell sees herself as less trailblazer and more role model for young women and girls.

"The reality of AFLW says to women - and men - of all ages that you can be and do whatever you want to if you work hard enough and you are a good person; that’s a very important message for everyone in society,’’ she said.

"I love that about AFLW, and that we can begin our journey now at Port Adelaide in such a special environment at Alberton. It is so exciting to think we can start from the ground up and provide that space for young girls and women to grow and develop as people and footballers.

"All the values that sit around the footy club are strong values for me personally, so it feels like a really nice fit.’’

The middle child of triplets, Arnell credits her mother Brenda for shaping her as a person.

"Mum is a very strong woman. She grew up on a farm herself, like we did, and she taught us the value of hard work and never placing a limit on who you are and what you can do,’’ she said.

"I grew up watching Mum do all the farm work and just dig in to get everything done. I saw mum doing all those things from a very young age and she’s had a massive influence on who I am.

"We will have to get her down from Brisbane for home games and get her amongst the group. She might rival some of the most loyal members as the loudest person in the crowd… I sat with her at an AFLW final a couple of weeks ago for the first time and she had a bit to say!’’

Currently based in Brisbane, Arnell said the move to Adelaide would be a homecoming of sorts, with her partner Lexi’s twin sister Zoe, a staunch Port Adelaide fan, in South Australia.

Previously a South Australian Women’s Football League leading goalkicker, Lexi moved from Adelaide to Brisbane three years ago and is currently QAFLW head coach at Brisbane club, Yeronga South Brisbane.

"My sister Moira is sad that Lex and I will not be the fun aunties up here in Queensland anymore; leaving them will be challenging. And my brother Andrew lives in Melbourne - he’s an optometrist and has an amazing little boy who was born in November. Dad is currently based in South Gippsland, Victoria.

"We have another niece, Esme, in Adelaide. Being able to reconnect with that side of the family and have little Esme grow up with her aunty coaching Port Adelaide is going to be pretty special.

"Everyone is really excited about the opportunity I have, and obviously proud, and just keen to support me.’’

"I can’t wait to learn more about the history of the club and get to work,’’ she said.

"The values piece and the culture is the most important part for me, and I’m looking forward to generating our own culture within the AFLW program that compliments what’s always been there for over 150 years.’’

Arnell will commence in the role early May.