Port Adelaide’s AFLW team spent the weekend on the Fleurieu, training, bonding and enjoying quality time together, to kick-start the 2023 pre-season. 

The team started Saturday with an intense training session at Alberton Oval, before travelling down to Victor Harbor for the rest of the weekend.  

Staff and players enjoyed some late lunch after training and watched the end of the Port Adelaide/Hawthorn AFL game at Hotel Victor, before checking into the beautiful accommodation at a local caravan park. 

“Camp is an opportunity for us to be together and to connect, especially with eight new players in our group, it’s a fantastic way to start off our pre-season,” senior coach Lauren Arnell said. 

“We wanted to have our pre-season camp somewhere local, and Victor Harbor is such a nice, seaside town. We have a couple of players who grew up close by, in Indy Tahau and Cheyenne Hammond, so it’s been great to have that local connection.” 

Australian cricketer Megan Schutt visited on Saturday evening for a Q&A about life in the spotlight, living a high-performance lifestyle, and having sustained success in a team environment, before joining the group for a relaxed dinner. 

After a light session on the track in the Sunday morning sunshine, local fans were invited to meet and greet players and were able to take home signed posters and selfies with their favourites. 

“I’ve been here since the start of AFLW, and you never get tired of the young kids and families who love coming out to things like this and who get so much out of what AFLW has brought to football,” Arnell said. 

“The team had a really heavy session yesterday to kick off camp, which was a good mix of conditioning and football, and we’ve just had a fun, light session today to finish up the weekend. 

“We’re very grateful to the Victor Harbor Football Club for allowing us to use their facilities today, they have been fantastic.” 

During free time, players and staff got to enjoy the surrounding area with some opting for walks on the beach, and others wandering the main street in search of coffee. 

To round out the weekend, it was bowling, laser skirmish and arcade games before heading home to prepare for week two of pre-season. 

“The weekend was such a great opportunity for our players and staff to spend quality time together,” Arnell said. 

“We have plenty of work to do in the pre-season before games begin, and we are really excited for what’s to come.”