Although pleased to see her side win in a number or key statistics, Lauren Arnell has lamented her side's inability to hit the scoreboard against the Hawks. Image: AFL Photos.

LAUREN Arnell looked over statistical data that says many of her "Inaugurals" made genuine progress on a cold Saturday night at Frankston against fellow AFLW newcomer Hawthorn.

Centre bounce."We won that tonight," said Arnell with basketball convert Olivia Levicki, in a sole-hand ruck assignment, winning the hit-outs with 23 taps in just her seventh AFLW game.

Clearances, inside-50s, contested football ... all the issues exposed in the Showdown loss eight days earlier at Adelaide Oval were corrected with significant wins on the Champion Data sheets.

But not the scoreboard ...

"Scoring 1.10 makes it difficult to win a game of footy," said Arnell after the 13-point loss to Hawthorn left her side with no reward on the AFLW premiership ladder for their concerted effort.

"Winning centre bounce, contested possession - they are a couple of (qualities that are) pretty important to winning the game, but 1.10 hurt us."

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Lauren Arnell press conference - 8 October | PTV

Lauren Arnell speaks to the media following Port Adelaide's clash with Hawthorn.

Take away the scoreboard and there were notable indicators that Arnell is working with talent that is thriving in AFLW company - and now has to become part of a team system at Port Adelaide.

Rising Star-nominated midfielders Abbey Dowrick and Hannah Ewings at times seemed to be seeking to win the game by their own efforts for Port Adelaide.

"The young midfielders - Dowrick and Ewings - take big lessons from every game," Arnell said.

Levicki too. "She got involved pretty well and played her role," Arnell said. "We can walk away saying most of the team played their roles tonight."

Olivia Levicki was a force in the ruck in just her seventh AFLW game, tallying a game-high 23 hit outs. Image: AFL Photos.

Another debutante - teenage defender Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap - stood up under the bright lights. "She was not out of place at all," Arnell said. "She did some really nice things. That is pleasing.

"I am seeing a lot of individual development," added Arnell. "It is now (about) how much can we put together as a team after (just) seven games of footy?

"We know we are better. We know we are more capable. And we know 1.10 - well, 11 scoring shots gives you the opportunity to win. And with 1.10 we did not make the most of what we created."

Put the lens on how the game was transformed - particularly by Hawthorn's hard-tackling and kicking game - after half-time and it clear why Arnell already knows how training at Alberton will be structured in the lead-up to the round eight home clash with the imposing North Melbourne unit at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

"We gave Hawthorn a few looks at goal," said Arnell, noting the speed Hawthorn put on the game during the third quarter - and the tactical adjustments in crowding Port Adelaide's attack with a sweeper for the exit plays on turnovers. 

"We did not take opportunities in front of goal, so it makes it difficult to win a game.

"They sent numbers to our forward line and (Hawthorn's tackling) created the turnovers. At times we were able to equalise at the contest. But where we turned the ball over at times tonight hurt us. 

"We just did not capitalise on the opportunities we created. We gave it back to them in some pretty dangerous spots. We have to learn from that."

Arnell notes Port Adelaide enters "another week of living in disappointment - and a lot of learnings".

"My job now is to show (the group) the most important parts of the game to learn from," Arnell said. "We stick together - and we build on how we come together as a team across the ground. That is the connection.

"And we will work on our ability to use the ball under pressure. The basics."