PORT ADELAIDE - like its 17 AFLW rivals - is unsure when the league will open the "trade window" to allow critical player movement during the off-season. But there is no uncertainty on list manager Naomi Maidment's priorities for a strategic recruiting mission to enhance the make-up of an already promising squad at Alberton.

It is unquestionably on finding more scoring avenues for a team that put 30.43 on the scoreboard - despite often winning the inside-50 differential - in 10 AFLW games during Port Adelaide's inaugural national women's league season. The scores ranged from a high of 10.8 in the win at home against Sydney to a low of 0.3 in Showdown I at Adelaide Oval - and the three-goal average needs to be boosted by greater efficiency inside the forward-50 mark, particularly while minor premier Brisbane sets the pace for more scoring in the AFLW.

The need for more firepower was reinforced by noting how challenging it was for Port Adelaide to score when deprived All-Australian key forward Gemma Houghton for six games, first by the need for ankle surgery after round two and then from the season-finale against Essendon at Alberton Oval on Sunday by a muscle strain.

Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell is amid end-of-season exit meetings with her 30 "Inaugurals" knowing exactly what is needed for the follow-up campaign after ranking 17th with a 1-1-8 win-draw-loss record as one of four newcomers to the AFLW (along with Essendon, Hawthorn and Sydney).

"We will definitely look to sharpen up our forward line where we can," Arnell said. "And we need more height as well.

"More height around the ground and even another tall defender would be helpful on our list.

"Naomi Maidment is working hard on this already."

Maidment established an inaugural list with a long-term vision to ensure sustained success in the AFLW. But this season's 10-game campaign did expose some immediate needs, particularly in attack. 

"The optimism we have with this young list has generated great excitement, particularly when we have three Rising Star nominations," Arnell said of midfielders Abbey Dowrick and teenager Hannah Ewings and defender Indy Tahau. "And we think (defender) Alex Ballard was a little bit stiff for not getting a nomination.

"Our list has 20 from our group of 30 who are all aged under 24. And a very big percentage of this group are first-time AFLW players. The youth in our squad and the experience around them is what we are really excited about.

"We have real optimism with what is to come, even if we are frustrated about some of our results and games that we feel we could have won but did not fall our way,” said Arnell who describes the rushed entry to AFLW Season 7 as "hectic".

Exit meetings must be completed this week.

"And one challenging element of that," adds Arnell, "is we don't have 'sign and trade' dates or even a clear understanding on what list sizes will be for next season. We will do the best we can with the information we have. We will make sure our players - many are from interstate and have set up here - are best cared for during the off season.

"While we have no real guidance on how next season unfolds (with start dates and the timing of drafts and trade periods), it is a tricky one."

Port Adelaide has confirmed captain Erin Phillips is to return next season, her eighth in the AFLW.

"Erin has been amazing for our whole program," Arnell said of the AFLW trailblazer who was Port Adelaide's first female signing. "Her impact on the field increased as the season went on; she has been a fantastic support on and off the field. 

"And we put her in ruck ... and she gave something different to our clearance work. I am really proud of the way Erin performed during the second half of the season."

Port Adelaide's inaugural list included one of Phillips' basketball converts, Olivia Levecki who took to Australian football with stunning results in ruck.

"It has been amazing how Olivia, who found great success as an athlete in basketball for many years, has made her mark in the AFLW with her first 10 games of Australian football at any level," Arnell said. "It is an incredible achievement. She came up against some of the stronger rucks in the competition and really held her own.

"We have seen huge development in every game Olivia played. Even as an older athlete (aged 29) I am excited about Olivia's potential to improve and develop going into next season."

Not in question is the vibrancy the Port Adelaide fans brought to the inaugural AFLW campaign, in particular with their support at the club's traditional home at Alberton Oval.

Despite restricted capacity while redevelopment works are underway on the eastern flank, Port Adelaide ranked No. 1 in the league for home crowds in four games at Alberton Oval with 3256 attending on average. Add the crowd from Showdown I at Adelaide Oval, Port Adelaide was the clear leader for home attendances with an average attendance of 6739.

"The Port Adelaide people - I have felt incredibly supported by the entire Port Adelaide community," Arnell said. "It has been a really special part of coming to Port Adelaide (from Brisbane). Amazing people ... and an amazing football club."