PORT ADELAIDE coach Lauren Arnell has praised her side’s fighting spirit in its epic come from behind Semi-Final win over Hawthorn on Saturday night.
Trailing by 22 points at the final change, the Power staged the biggest comeback from three-quarter-time in the AFLW’s history to pinch victory and seal a remarkable Preliminary Final berth in just its third season in the competition.
While incredibly proud of her charges, an emotional Arnell was quick to pay tribute to the Hawks, who were dominant for most of the contest at IKON Park.
“What an amazing game of footy,” she said after the game.
“I thought Hawthorn clearly were on top of us for the absolute majority of that game and I guess the message for our girls is just (to) continue to believe in ourselves.
“Again, Hawthorn were incredible and I think for (Hawks coach) Daniel Webster and his group, I know they'll be really disappointed, but I think (there’s) so much for them to be proud of.
“And another game for us in a final… to be really pleased for, just in the general sense, the competition, that's the kind of footy you want to watch.”
Needing at least four goals in the last quarter, Arnell and her coaching group shifted the magnets and the side started well to put the Hawks on the back foot.
The Power had 12 straight clearances and booted the first four goals of the term to hit the front when Abbey Dowrick found herself in space over the back and ran into an open goal with about five minutes to play.
The drama continued when the Hawks hit back through Kaitlyn Ashmore three minutes later but a timely late behind to Sachi Syme put Port back in the lead and Arnell’s side held on for an unbelievable result.
“I thought the coaching staff were as calm as we could have asked them to be at three quarter time,” Arnell said.
“We swung a few changes and our players certainly buying into just playing a role wherever we asked them to play.
“I thought Matilda Scholz went to a whole new level in that last quarter.
“We've got a few players who in different moments this season have sort of had an attitude of ‘not today, I'm gonna do something about this’. And you know, that's a little bit of confidence and maturity and, yeah, it's exciting stuff.”
After finding it hard to impact the game in the first three terms, Dowrick had seven disposals and two goals in the last quarter after being shifted forward, while Syme went from the backline into the forward line and also impacted on the scoreboard.
“Abbey's been probably our best mid all year, certainly in meters gained and wasn't feeling at her best all night, and to go to work (after) three quarter time,” Arnell explained of the move.
(The coaching group decided) let's swing her forward and give Piper Window a little bit more time on ball.
“I’m really pleased for Abbey to I think it's more confidence for Abs to know that even when you feel like there's not much left in the tank, there always is.
“Sachi Syme, we had her on ball for most of the year, but probably the last month or so, she's been a really important part of our backline.
“And at three quarter time, we said, ‘mate, can you jump forward and play a defensive role for us?’ and I think she ended up kicking a point that that put us up.
“There's just so many of our playing group who are just willing to do what it takes for the team, and that's really special in our group right now.”
After eight straight wins, the belief at Alberton is high but Arnell was quick to challenge the group to improve.
“There's been enormous growth for everyone in our team and I just keep challenging them (about) how much better can we get every week,” the coach said.
“And we've seen another performance where we can execute small moments that we haven't been able to and probably rightfully so. We've only played 33 games of footy together now, and so it's just really nice for the players to get reward for effort, and to just represent the club with pride.”
Port Adelaide will now prepare for a maiden AFLW Preliminary Final, returning to IKON Park to face the undefeated North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
