Head coach Lauren Arnell says there are some steep lessons to learn out of this game as her team prepares for the first AFLW Showdown next week. Image: AFL Photos.

LAUREN Arnell is going back to the classroom. The qualified teacher has many learnings to put before her "Inaugurals" as the Port Adelaide senior coach prepares for the first AFLW Showdown this week.

Port Adelaide left the learning grounds of Bond University at south-east Queensland with a 14-point loss to Gold Coast - and one lecture that will echo to Showdown I at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

"One quarter of footy - one quarter of our better footy - won't get us the win," Arnell said after the loss to Gold Coast put Port Adelaide at 1-1-3 leading into the first derby and the second half of the 10-game AFLW home-and-away series.

Port Adelaide overcame a 32-point deficit in the third term to rally with a four-goal surge during the last term.

"I am pleased with our last-quarter effort, so there is nothing to say the (24C) heat got on top of us today because we saw what they did in the last quarter," Arnell said.

"This group does not give up. We were just outplayed in that first period of the game.

"And that is definitely disappointing. As we saw in the last quarter, we are definitely capable ... unfortunately, we did not play four quarters of footy."

02:17

Lauren Arnell post-match press conference - 25 September | PTV

Lauren Arnell speaks to the media following the Power's Round 5 loss to the Suns.

Port Adelaide was beaten by a team that worked harder at Port Adelaide's trademarks of contested football.

"We knew if we won stoppage it would more than likely win the game," said Arnell whose team lost the clearance numbers, 16-26.

"We got beaten in stoppage and by about 20 in contested possession which has been a strength of ours.

"So, it is fair to say, we're disappointed.

"What would be fair to (also) note is we are five games in as an expansion team. We still think we are better than that. Gold Coast has had continuity with its group and the experience they have allowed them to execute better than us," added Arnell from a game that highlighted Gold Coast worked the ball to its attack with better systems.

Arnell answered questions on how Port Adelaide looked at the influence of Gold Coast midfielder Charlie Rowbottom (27 disposals) saying: "The bigger concern was how we set up at stoppage rather than worry about an individual.

"It is a constant learning for us. We have learnt plenty from the first four weeks and there are some steep lessons to learn out of this game before we go into the Showdown on Friday night. We already are looking forward to it ..."