Port Adelaide coach Lauren Arnell says the maturity and versatility of her playing group is what has been most pleasing for her in the 2024 AFLW season. 

The Power has become the first team from the most recent wave of expansion to qualify for a Preliminary Final, with the group showing continuous improvement, week on week. 

Arnell spoke with the Adelaide media on Friday about how they have arrived at this point, how they beat the Hawks last weekend, and what she expects from North Melbourne. 

Arnell on qualifying for a Preliminary Final 
“It's amazing, isn't it? I think obviously, heaps of growth from last year into now. And yeah, very pleased to be playing footy at the pointy end of the year and to be in the final four teams in this comp. I think would have been pretty lofty expectations to be to be going for this (at the start of the year) but I do think our group hasn't put a ceiling on what we're doing here, so it's allowed us to be in this position. So we'll keep rolling.” 

Arnell on what has pleased her most this year 
“I think the maturity and the versatility amongst our group. You would have seen at three quarter time against Hawthorn, when we were 22 points down, we were able to throw a few players around and move some things that we probably haven't even done throughout the year. So I think just the maturity of the group to face all sorts of different challenges that we've had this year, and to do it in an enormous moment in the Semi-Final, and then execute what we did in the last quarter is a big indicator of the maturity in our group.” 

Arnell on what has changed since the side last played North Melbourne 
“We have grown up a fair bit since what I would call Round 4. I think North have been an incredible team all year, and they got the jump on us significantly in that first quarter in particular, and then the weather hit enormously at Whitten Oval that Friday. So yeah, I think the maturity has been a bit of a process for us this year. And certainly we weren't anywhere near where we are now in Round 4.” 

Arnell on the group staying in the present 
“Our group, as I said, like the major growth has been maturity, and so our group is honestly just waiting to play this game on Saturday afternoon.” 

Arnell on what she said at three quarter time against Hawthorn 
“I wouldn't say any motivation’s required at all in our team, it's all about what's the process. And think just reinforcement for what we've been doing over the last almost three years now is, well, it's been two calendar years, almost three seasons. I said to them, we've got to kick four goals here to win. And I said, do you think we can do it? And they all lifted their eyes and said, yeah, we can. And off they went. So there's not any motivation required, just a little bit of process around how we needed to do that, and the players executed it so well.” 

Arnell on reviewing the Round 4 loss to the Kangaroos 
“We absolutely revisit what happened in Round 4. And think a lot of the tougher lessons we got in that game, and the game prior against Fremantle. We lost here at Alberton against Freo, and kind of got overrun. And yeah, we weren't as mature as the Fremantle experienced bodies in Round 3 here, and then to go to North Melbourne and start the game really poorly, I think has triggered a lot of growth in our group this year. And so yeah, a lot of it is around how can we manage starts of games better? Which typically we've done a lot better since. But then also, there's been a lot of learning, even in that second half where we felt like we were going pretty well, the score didn't get put on the board and felt like a bit of a hurricane at Whitten Oval at the time, the weather was horrendous, but we did feel like our processes and the method we needed to go about our game was there in that second half. And so there are a few mechanics to the game that help. And certainly, our confidence in our fitness and our ability to get contest to contest has significantly improved.” 

Arnell on travelling for the Prelim 
“Oh, we travel, I guess you say every second week, being a non-Victorian team, so there's familiarity in everything we do. Yeah, we actually, I think we really enjoy the travel, to be honest. And it's interesting for non-Victorian teams to have to travel. I think it did benefit us having Richmond at home in that first week, they don't have to travel a lot. I think I looked at their schedule, and they've been to Darwin a couple weeks prior to coming here, but prior to that, they had travelled since round three. And so for us, every second week. Our group loves being around each other, and it's actually really enjoyable time, and they do it well.” 

Arnell on what to expect this Saturday 
“I think for North, they've clearly shown that they're the best team in the comp to this point. I think it will work in our favour that we've played high pressure games, particularly since we went up to the Gold Coast. And the measures around that, that we get during the game and post-game, around pressure factor, which we value, North have been number one in the comp for most of the year and we've just grabbed it. So we've kind of been one and two all year in pressure factor, and contest is huge too. So those two things, those two measures, in particular, when it comes to finals, are big. And knowing that both teams are one and two in the comp all year, I think it does help us that we've had some high pressure games leading up to it, and playing last week in the heat as well, at the same venue, I think will be helpful for us.  

Arnell on being the underdogs 
“I think our group plays free football either way. I think the experience of having our crowd here and the expectation that comes with playing for Port Adelaide is there every week anyway, and so, that suits our group and sets us up well to be playing finals.” 

Arnell on the support from the men’s program 
“It’s funny, obviously, finishing our season now a bit deeper into the AFL W calendar, and now our AFL men's group are returning, it's honestly just been a really nice vibe to be around the guys as they return to work. And yeah, Ken and all the men's coaches have honestly just been so excited for us, and so that's been really enjoyable to be here during the week and have them back from their breaks and just enjoy the process.” 

Arnell on Julia Teakle’s growth 
“I think Julia Teakle’s main growth came out of our first season, and we saw a lot of it last year. And, you know, Teaks is a very mature 21 year old, and is very, very diligent, which I've said a lot before. And I think the biggest tick for Julia is, she had a month out with her injury, and there was no hesitation in selecting her in our best 21 and she comes out against Richmond and performs in the way that she has. She's an integral part of our forward line and really helps our group structure up when the ball's not necessarily in our area. So, yeah, really pleased with her, her development so far.” 

Arnell on people noticing Port Adelaide more this year 
“It's been really fun to see our players and our program noticed, I guess, throughout the competition. But again, to be in the final four of the comp at this point of the year is a lot of feedback for us, and it's exciting for our players to get some of the recognition that they've been working hard for. And also, I think, signs of, hopefully, what's to come into the future as well.”