Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell says her side is embracing the rivalry and excitement of Friday night’s AFLW Showdown IV at Norwood Oval, as the club looks to build on last week’s impressive win over Hawthorn.
Speaking to the media alongside Adelaide senior coach Matthew Clarke, Arnell touched on how she’s preparing her side for the blockbuster under lights, and what the side took from the impressive win against a top two side in Round 10.
She also reflected on the team’s growth and consistency across the season, praised the form of forward Indy Tahau, and provided an update on Lauren Young, who will miss the remainder of the home-and-away season due to a minor knee procedure.
Port Adelaide AFLW members can access general admission tickets to the Showdown via the club app. For those unable to attend, the match will be broadcast live from 7pm ACDT on Channel 7 and Kayo.
Arnell on preparing for Showdown IV
“Certainly, (a win) has been the aspiration over the last three years, and we’ve now got our fourth crack at it. We're very much looking forward to playing here at Norwood Oval tomorrow night.”
“The Showdown is the Showdown. I think the growth of it, in terms of the W space, continues to be exciting. And like I said, to put it really simply, we just can't wait for the opportunity again. It's typically been a bit earlier in the season - I know the last two years it's been Round 1 - so to have it a bit later in the year, and with our group having played more time together, it's been a core part of our growth as a program in W at Port Adelaide. The more games we play together, the better we get, so we can't wait to get out there tomorrow night.”
“I’m not sure you could add much more to the rivalry than what it already is. I think we just embrace what it is currently and embrace the opportunity to perform again. The Showdown is a great atmosphere. There are some players who’ve played across both sides, and I think that's an exciting element of the W Showdown as well. Certainly, we know that women's sport here in South Australia is so supportive of each other, and we have a lot of gratitude for the sports that are involved across our program, and the athletes (from other codes) that will show up for us tomorrow night as well.”
Arnell on the win against Hawthorn
“I’m certainly pleased with the way we went about things against Hawthorn. The scoreboard said one thing, but even the way we went about it against the Lions - the scoreboard told one story, but if you watch the way we played, I think it tells a different story - and we saw more growth on that against Hawthorn. To put 94 on the scoreboard and to beat the team that was sitting second on the ladder is a real sign of growth for our group this year. While not every result has gone the way we would have planned for, I’m certainly pleased with the way we went about it a week ago, and we will look to build on that again tomorrow night.”
Arnell on Indy Tahau’s form
“We look to play a team brand of footy at Port Adelaide, that's for sure. But certainly, we couldn't be more pleased for Indy this season. She played the first few weeks as a defender, coming back from that long-term ACL injury. I'm told just this morning that she has kicked the equal-most goals ever in an AFLW season so far. We very much focus on a team performance, but I’m also so pleased with how her season's been this year, mostly as a forward.”
“Indy's a pretty relaxed character. She's very much a player that wants to play a role for the team. She's a genuine utility who can play anywhere, and we've seen her in the ruck quite often as well this year too. She’s had an impressive season so far - and some more to go.”
Arnell on Lauren Young
“Lauren Young is such a resilient individual, and she's had to be with the start to her AFLW career, but we know she's an exceptional person, and she'll recover very quickly from what's really a minor procedure, but one that's required at this point of the year.”
