ANGE Foley came to the Port Adelaide Football Club to define the inaugural AFLW team's culture with her leadership, experience and her determination to succeed.
This weekend - against Carlton at Ikon Park on Sunday - Foley intends to set the example to correct a flaw in the Port Adelaide game. The free-kick count - at a time when Port Adelaide cannot afford to load up the opposition - needs realignment.
Rather than debate the merit of the free kicks conceded, Foley is challenging herself even after having a favourable 3-1 free-kick count against the Western Bulldogs at the weekend.
"There are a few things we can tidy up - and I am guilty of a couple at the weekend," Foley said. "It is just that last piece, a bit of understanding of the game .. or even a bit of frustration for some players.
"We can talk about that this week.
Port Adelaide is 0-2 in a 10-round home-and-away season - and still, as Foley notes, ambitious on what could unfold for the "inaugurals" in the first 18-team AFLW season.
Foley paid tribute to the work ethic shown by her team-mates in the 19-point loss to the impressive Western Bulldogs.
"But we are not satisfied nor happy with the result," Foley said. "We go out to win every game.
"We have been together for 13 weeks. The Western Bulldogs are in their seventh season.
"So, we are proud of how we matched the Western Bulldogs for patches, even quarters. Same with West Coast. We can put quarters together. But we are a work in progress to get the result we need.
"We need better connection with our forward line," added Foley of the issues exposed against the Western Bulldogs. "And defensively we allowed the Western Bulldogs to chip the ball down the field - their strength. That is us not being close enough (to our opponents). In the third term we allowed a goal to be scored by letting them do as they wanted to do. We had talked about that during the week and did not execute on match day."
Port Adelaide also found - despite being a new team on the AFLW block - the opposition scouts have worked diligently to mark the team's playmakers.
"We do the same," Foley said. "But, as a midfielder, I see how my team-mates are getting attention. Erin Phillips, every time she gets the ball, she has three people on top of her. We have to turn that into an opportunity to bring other players into the game. Otherwise, it becomes frustrating and a mental game.
"These are the challenges we enjoy."
Foley also praised the Port Adelaide fans for the way they embraced the home opener at Alberton, particularly with the Never Tear Us Apart anthem in the minute before the first bounce.
"It is goosebumps ... you feel really proud," Foley said. "You feel the passion of our supporters. They came to see the first professional women's football match at Alberton Oval and the first ever NTUA to be sung at Alberton ...
"That is a moment we are never ever going to forget.
"I am excited for when we host Sydney in two weeks' time so we can do it all over again."
In question is whether the "Inaugurals" were emotionally distracted or spent by the build-up to the first home game last week.
"We spoke a little bit about it," Foley said. "We did not talk too much about (playing before a big crowd). I know we have a young team with girls who have not experienced such before.
"Our theme was, 'Eyes inside the fence'. But I found I had to tell myself that at times. I certainly needed to during the 30-minute (injury) delay (at the end of the second quarter). It was really hard to concentrate then. We tried to go about our business."
Rising Star nominee Abbey Dowrick was cleared of any blame by the AFL match review process for her smother that led to the broken leg of Western Bulldogs midfielder Britney Gutknecht.
"I do feel for Abbey," Foley said. "We will get around her this week at training. She does know Brit, they have played the game together a lot. We will definitely be supporting Abbey. And it is so unfortunate for Brit at a time when there are a fair few injuries in the AFLW.
"We put our bodies on the line. We face the risk and, unfortunately, these things happen. It's all part of the game."
