Port Adelaide has finalised its AFLW coaching panel for the 2023 season, which will once again be led by senior coach Lauren Arnell.
SANFL captain Cam Sutcliffe has been elevated into an assistant coach position, while Glenelg’s Braedon Talbot and AFLW All-Australian Sam Virgo have been added to the group, with Virgo’s appointment announced in January.
Sutcliffe, along with Virgo and West Adelaide veteran Daniel Caire, make up the assistant coaching group, while Talbot and SANFL state coaching manager Dave Reynolds have been appointed player development coaches.
Caire and Reynolds were both in the coaching group for the club’s inaugural AFLW season, with Reynolds opting to move from assistant to player development coach this season, to better balance family and work commitments.
Clayton Lamb and Renee Forth have departed the club, with Lamb accepting a role at Glenelg.
Sutcliffe’s promotion comes with valuable experience as a player and coach across the AFL and SANFL systems, playing more than 100 games between Fremantle and Port Adelaide.
After spending last season in the Power’s AFLW program, the 30-year-old has been further developing his coaching craft by working part-time in the men’s program in 2023.
Talbot joins the panel bringing coaching experience from Glenelg in the SANFLW and the Reynella Football Club, as its inaugural women’s coach.
Originally from Darwin, Talbot is in his fourth season at Glenelg, and has been involved in the development of Port Adelaide players Ella Boag and Matilda Scholz at state-league level.
As Port Adelaide’s Aboriginal programs manager, Talbot is a proud Larrakia/Wagiman man who will offer a valuable Indigenous viewpoint to the AFLW program.
“We are thrilled to finalise our coaching panel for the 2023 season,” head of AFLW Juliet Haslam said.
“We are really pleased to have Cam step up into an assistant coaching role this year. His commitment to our program has been fantastic and he quickly earned respect from the playing group through his positive energy, knowledge of the game and calm approach.
“We are excited to also welcome Braedon to the coaching panel and we’re really looking forward to seeing what he will bring to our program.
“Braedon has fantastic experience coaching women and girls at different levels and his connection to his culture is truly inspiring.
“We’re grateful to Renee and Clayton for their involvement in our inaugural season and wish them all the very best for what’s next.”
Port Adelaide AFLW 2023 season coaching panel
Senior coach - Lauren Arnell
Assistant coach - Daniel Caire
Assistant coach - Sam Virgo
Assistant coach - Cam Sutcliffe (formerly player development coach)
Player development coach - Dave Reynolds (formerly assistant coach)
Player development coach – Braedon Talbot
