Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell praised her team’s resilience and maturity following a dominant Round 10 win over an in-form Hawthorn side.
Reflecting on the performance, Arnell highlighted her team’s ability to respond under pressure and execute their game plan against one of the competition’s top sides, with the 95–59 result marking the highest combined score in AFLW history.
Speaking to the media post-game, Arnell commended the forward line’s impact - led by standout performances from Indy Tahau and Gemma Houghton - along with the continued development of rising star Matilda Scholz.
Arnell on the Round 10 win against the Hawks
“I’m most pleased with the way we went about it, and that's something I talk about win or loss every week. I’m really proud of our group. We've obviously had a bit of adversity this year between wins and losses and injuries. I think to come off the Brisbane game last week, where we were really pleased with how we went about it - the scoreboard didn't tick our way to execute our game style - I think Hawthorn are second on the ladder at the moment, so to then respond when Hawthorn had the game on their terms for a five-to-ten-minute patch there in the third quarter, it shows a lot of learning in our season and a lot of maturity in a very young group.”
“Playing front-half footy was a big focus for us in this game. We've seen Hawthorn - obviously being a Round 10 game, you get a good look at them throughout the season - and they do chip it around a fair bit in their back half. So we knew that front-half pressure for us was going to be a really important part of the game, and our team really brought that.”
“We've played some good games of footy - certainly the Gold Coast game when we set the scoring record was a big one, then Melbourne here at home when they, I don’t think, had lost a game. We were also pretty happy with our game against the Dogs a couple of weeks ago, and we were happy with how we went about things against the Lions. And this one, I think, just to put almost 100 points on the scoreboard against a team placed second on the ladder, shows what we’re capable of. Our group is continuing to understand what we are capable of, and searching for that consistency is crucial for us. Regardless of what’s on the table - whether that’s finals or not - we keep showing up to get better.”
Arnell on the performance of the forward line
“Gemma (Houghton) got going nice and early and then played a really important role late to connect the ground for us - I think that's the best she’s done that. Indy (Tahau) didn't see a lot of it early, and the message for her still, as a young player, is just to hang in there and keep showing up. And she did that - five goals, two, is exceptional, and I think she’s now the league’s leading goalkicker. For someone who didn't play forward at all in the first three rounds, we're seeing a lot of progress there.”
“I think a shout also to our smalls. Obviously, Chloe Gaunt came back in as a tall, which freed up Matilda (Scholz) a bit more around her and Indy not having to ruck. But watching Jaz Sowden lay 10 tackles, Katelyn Pope playing a role on Lucas-Rodd really unselfishly, and our skipper (Justine Mules-Robinson) really playing a role and doing the things that are required from small forwards that often go unnoticed - I thought they really contributed.”
Arnell on Indy Tahau’s exceptional season
“Indy has been awesome, and I’ve been talking about Matilda in All-Australian form - and so is Indy. Obviously, she's leading the league right now, but I mean, she was playing forward when she did her ACL a couple of years ago, so we know what she's capable of. She's a genuine utility - you can play her anywhere. I'm really proud of her and pleased for her with the hard slog that she's had in that recovery, to be playing the footy that she is and connecting with her team in the way that she has after such a long time now - it's been exceptional.”
Arnell on Matilda Scholz’s form
“Matilda's had to really piece together a strong season, and I'll keep saying it - I can't imagine there's a better ruck in our comp so far this season. This is a kid who is 20 years old and is going from strength to strength. You see opponents trying different things with her and trying to unsettle her, and I think two years ago, rightfully, as an 18-year-old, little tactics off the ball can unsettle a player. But Matilda's really matured enormously this year, and she's handling some significant attention that isn't getting seen and really working her way through that.”
