Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell has reflected on the Round 5 loss to the Eagles as she prepares her side to take on an in-form Melbourne outfit at Alberton on Saturday afternoon. 

Speaking to portadelaidefc.com.au on Thursday, Arnell discussed turning the lessons from Round 5 into a strong performance on home turf, the opportunities that lie ahead for the rest of the season, and how she is preparing the team for the Dees. 

 Arnell also highlighted the standout contributions of Sachi Syme, now a genuine senior presence in her fourth season, and Ash Woodland, whose growth across both midfield and forward roles has been a key development for the group. 

 Tickets for the Power’s Round 5 clash against the Dees are on sale now, with children under 18 admitted free.  

Arnell on the Round 5 performance against the Eagles 
“I’m obviously disappointed with our inconsistency in the contest in Perth. I think there’s some really strong learnings we can take from it. The whole group is very disappointed. The beautiful thing about footy, and the fact we’ve just finished Round 4 of a 12-round season, is we get an opportunity to play here at Alberton and have a real crack at the Dees on Saturday.” 

“I think there have been several reflections from last season which are valuable to us as a group. At the same time, we have a different group right now alongside some who played in that run last year, so I think it’s important to tap into the valuable learnings from last year. We were one and three at this point in 2024, and we have earned the right to have a harder fixture this year. And what a beautiful thing. I think our team is better, and every club in this competition would expect to be better than they were last year. So, it’s my role to help the players find the best versions of themselves coming into Saturday.”  

Arnell on Sachi Syme and Ash Woodland’s Round 5 performance 
“I think while as a whole group we’re certainly disappointed in our consistency across the four quarters, Sachi (Syme) is certainly one to talk about right now. She is a kid who was 17 years old when she first came to the footy club as a Port Adelaide player and was still finishing Year 12. To be in her fourth season here, and now a genuine senior player in this football team, it’s been great to see her step up in the way she has. She moved halfway through last year to the back line, and I think she’s currently number two in the comp for intercepts. It’s something she should be really proud of, and I’m really proud of her as well. Ash Woodland - last year we saw her toward the back end of the season start to play minutes on ball, but mostly as a forward. She’s come into this year still splitting time between the midfield and the forward line, and to have a couple of games now where she’s been largely in the midfield, there’s some real growth there for her. I think there’s some really good growth in individuals around the both of them. The two of them really stood up in Perth.” 

Arnell on preparing for Melbourne this weekend 
“We’re preparing as we normally would, and we understand that three out of the next four games we play in this competition are here at Alberton. I encourage our fans to come and really get around us, as they always do, on Saturday. Our group absolutely loves playing here at home, and I’m really excited for what Saturday can bring. There’s a very determined group who really want to turn around the inconsistencies of Sunday in Perth.”  

Arnell on the injury list 
“Yeah, obviously we saw Tilds (Matilda Scholz) had a dislocated finger very early in the game, and I think she played her role reasonably well for the remainder of the game. Unfortunately, after Cheyenne Hammond went through such a lengthy rehab with her ankle, she badly broke her finger early in that game and played it out. I think most would have seen she had a role on Ella Roberts, and Teagan Germech helped out with that when Roberts was forward. We’re so disappointed for her, and we’ll get around her. Obviously, her surgery is going to impact some of her year that remains, so that’s a tough one. But I think it creates an exciting opportunity for whoever comes back into the team.”