PORT ADELAIDE senior coach Lauren Arnell has taken some positives from her side’s loss to North Melbourne Tasmania on Friday evening, despite being disappointed with its first half showing.
Arnell’s side conceded the first six goals of the game without troubling the scorers but responded in horribly stormy second half conditions to prevent the Kangaroos from any further goals.
The 6.6 (42) to 1.0 (6) final scoreline probably didn’t tell the full story with the Power getting on top of the unbeaten Roos in the second half but being unable to put it on the scoreboard.
“I was pleased with our response after half time,” Arnell said after the game. “It's a real tale of two halves for us, and there'll be some woulda, coulda, shoulda out of that first half, given the contest that we provided in the second half against what might be certainly a top three, top four side and form suggests maybe the best in the competition so far.”
Down in a number of key statistics at half time, Arnell challenged her charges to win the contest and limit the number of energy sapping free kicks being given away.
In torrential rain, Port Adelaide was finally rewarded when Julia Teakle converted a free kick set shot in front of goal – her eighth goal of the campaign so far to keep her in touching distance of being the competition’s leading goal kicker.
Despite being unable to make any further inroads, Port was able to keep the Kangaroos to just one behind for the entire second half.
“We came in at half time knowing we were getting beaten to the ball, giving away a lot of free kicks, and North were playing the way that they liked to play, and we were allowing that,” Arnell explained.
“And so I asked the group to turn that around. I think it's our 24th or 25th game, to be able to respond a lot more maturely than what we ever have, I think is really pleasing for us.
“Whether that's (because of) the conditions or not, we'll never really know, but I think, certainly, an adjustment in work rate and ability to get first of the footy was significant for us.”
Arnell was also pleased with the performance of her backline after a challenging first half, and in the absence of injured captain Janelle Cuthbertson – with the experienced Ange Foley in particular standing out.
“I think all of our defenders are going pretty well so far this season, and they were certainly challenged very much in that first half,” Arnell said.
“I think there'll be a few moments, particularly for our key backs, where they'll want a few back in that first half, and the adjustment that all of our defenders made, including Foley, to look after some really dangerous forwards at North Melbourne.”
Port faces a short turnaround before it takes on Richmond back in Melbourne on Tuesday.
