PORT Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell is excited to be back home at Alberton on Saturday, with her group preparing to take on Brisbane.
It’s the first time the two sides have met since Port Adelaide entered the competition, with the visitors posing a great challenge for the young Power side.
Arnell spoke to the Adelaide media on Friday to discuss the progress of her playing group, the expectations for the Lions and the electric atmosphere the Alberton crowd brings.
Arnell on Alberton Oval
“There's a fair bit happening isn't there and certainly the surface is, for mine, unbeatable. We're really happy to be back home at Alberton and excited for the atmosphere that our people will bring for us tomorrow. There's no doubt the passion and the support that we receive is unrivalled in this competition. Even at training, we've got some pretty special people that come out and support us each training night and bring their Labradors along as well which I love. So it's the passion of our people and the care and the love for this footy club that is, I think, unrivalled in the comp and we feel that every day that we're here.”
TICKETS | Be there for Port Adelaide's first home game of the 2023 NAB AFLW Season
Arnell on the Showdown
“I think certainly our first half showed we’re very capable and there's been huge growth in our group and I think the Crows have already shown with their form that they should be a top four team this year. Just being put on the back foot in that third quarter is good learning for a young group like ours so we're looking forward to taking a fair bit out of Round 1 and into another really good team in the Lions tomorrow.”
Arnell on preparing for Brisbane
“I'm sure (former Lion) Maria (Moloney) would love to be out there tomorrow and Indy will be looking forward to coming up against her previous teammates and for myself as well, that team that I played in in 2021 hasn't changed a heap so I'm really excited. Craig (Starcevich) has been an exceptional coach for them and the group’s been exceptional since day one of this competition so it’s going to be a nice little challenge. When I was playing, I loved competing against my mates and feels like that again tomorrow and I'm super excited.”
Arnell on Brisbane’s strengths
“They're the benchmark in the competition for athleticism and being able to cover ground. They're a quick side and they're able to open up the ground and use the space on the ground really well. They've never played a boring style of footy, certainly good in the contest too and some really great experience across their side. I think the majority of that team played in the 2021 premiership so we know we're going to be in for a good four quarter game tomorrow.”
Arnell on a big upcoming weekend for Port Adelaide
“For Port Adelaide people tomorrow, knowing that it's week one of men's finals and that's a night game and you can come down to Alberton tomorrow and enjoy our game earlier in the day. I'd really love to see our Port Adelaide people start their Saturday in a nice way, come down and support us against Brisbane and then make a day of it and watch the boys hopefully knock off the Lions tomorrow night.”
Arnell on the impact of a longer pre-season
“I'm hoping our people could see it last week…our high performance team has done an incredible job in building our young group up and also our older girls having more time without having to do two seasons in one last year and changing clubs in between. And then there's the natural cohesion and connection that you can have once you know people better so that's been in important too and something that you can also be excited about going into years to come in the future. This is the time we can build a really nice base in our program and build the culture and hopefully see that pay off in time to come and hopefully in the short term too.”
Arnell on Erin Phillips
“She's been great. I think it's been pretty public that she feels she's in the best shape she’s been in, not having any surgery in the off-season has been enormous and she's applied herself, as you'd expect for Erin Phillips, and really set the tone for our group. (She’s) led the way in not just the pre-season, but the off-season as well, so it's great to see her healthy and looking good out there. We'll see how we go (with where she plays all season). Sachi (Syme) coming in gives us another mid, Maria Moloney becomes available next week too so Flip is able to pay wherever we need her to and certainly had a good impact last week.”
Arnell on Sachi Syme coming into the Round 2 side
“Sachi Syme comes in for her first game this year, obviously disappointing (to miss Round 1 due to) suspension from Round 10 last year, so really excited to add another contested mid in there and she's really pumped.”
