PORT ADELAIDE senior coach Lauren Arnell said she takes confidence from her side’s improved performance in Showdown III on Saturday night.
Despite finishing with a 14-point loss, the gap is clearly closing between the Power and three-time premiership side Adelaide, with Port Adelaide putting a huge focus on fitness and contest in the pre-season.
“I think you take confidence (from that game),” Arnell said.
“There are some areas that we let go against a good team that we still think is in our control. Some good steps forward for some younger players and some older players. And you just continue to focus on the areas that we put time into.
“I think the early numbers off the back of the game, we either won contested possession by one or they did by one.
“I thought our contest was reasonable. The better mids from the Crows still find a way to get out and spit forward when they have the momentum in hand. But I think our group's taken another step forward today. Is it as big as we'd like? Not quite, but I think there's a fair bit of positive there.”
Arnell glowed about her backline, with new captain Janelle Cuthbertson and 19-year-old Amelie Borg leading the way.
“I think for Amelie Borg and Janelle Cuthbertson, those are two that I get asked a little bit about,” Arnell said.
“We sent our group away with a really strong message to work, get fit, get stronger and (Borg has) led the way in that space and then that translates into performance, which I'm most proud of for her. And she takes a lot of confidence from her hard work, so we love that.
“And Janelle, first game as skipper, and I said to everyone prior to the game that she'll lead by example and we saw that again tonight. A real team player, smart interceptor, and will just do anything that's required for the team. And Teagan Germech I thought was really good off the backline too. A new element of run we perhaps haven't had in the past.”
Adelaide was able to get on top by generating repeat inside-50s, winning the stat 42-27, while their work around stoppage demonstrated the experience of a team entering its ninth season in the league.
Port Adelaide pushed them in the contest however, making the Crows look less clean and composed than they had in the rivals’ previous two match-ups.
“Time in front half was a pretty big differential,” Arnell said.
“It felt like this constant tussle in terms of what you're trying to achieve as a coach and what the players are trying to get done on ground. (With) the Crows trying to generate a spare, we wanted to equalise that all night and it becomes a big tussle over four quarters. When we got that done, I thought we were on top in the contest to be fair. We just weren't able to get it done for four quarters and we were quite sloppy at D50 stoppage.”
Debutant Shineah Goody and forward Ashleigh Saint were standouts, recording 15 touches and a goal each, while Sachi Syme managed a career-best 18 disposals.
The Power next take on the Western Bulldogs on Friday afternoon at the MCG.
