Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell has reflected on a memorable finish to the home and away season, highlighted by Gemma Houghton’s historic 100-goal milestone kicked after the final siren, Ash Woodland’s milestone 75th game, and a strong win over the GIANTS.  

While acknowledging the possibility of missing finals, Arnell praised her side’s maturity, connection, and growth across the season – pointing to standout Round 12 performances from Houghton, Indy Tahau, Ash Woodland, and Julia Teakle. 

She also touched on areas of focus heading into the off-season, the return of co-vice-captain Julia Teakle, and the development of a young defensive group.  

Arnell on Gemma Houghton’s 100-goal record 

“It was such an incredible moment and significant milestone to be the first ever 100-goal kicker in the league. We are so proud of Gemma. We're proud she's a Port Adelaide player, and you can see from her teammates’ reaction how pleased they are for her as well. As much as it's an individual milestone, certainly this team and how connected they are have contributed to that, and I know it's a great feeling for them – it's been a nice way to finish. Obviously, we’re disappointed that we're not playing finals it seems this year, but it was a very special moment for Gem and the team.” 

“If you put it into perspective, Gemma's been in the league from the start as well, and I think only playing seven or eight games in those first couple of seasons. I think to be where she is now, and to have tipped over that 30-year-old milestone, which she doesn't love, I think her season this year has been as good as she's been at Port Adelaide, and potentially one of her best years in the competition. And she's currently second in the league, behind Indy Tahau in the leading goal kicker stakes as well. I think Gemma's worked really hard at her game and in her off-season leading into this year. I think it's just incredible recognition, and I'm so glad that it was her that was the first 100-goal kicker.” 

 “She did stress this out a little bit in that last quarter. Certainly, toward the back end of that third, you would have seen we tried to isolate her a fair bit. And you can see the GIANTS had cottoned onto that and put quite a few opponents on her at different times. It's enormous for Gem, it’s enormous for our club, and also for her teammates. The unselfishness that we saw today is a hallmark of our team.” 

“These are moments that you want to really enjoy. While we are disappointed we haven't made finals it seems, I think you want the players to enjoy what they do, and a big part of our program is loving what we do as a footy team. I'm glad that you could see that from the outside.”  

Arnell on the win against the GIANTS 

“I think, to be fair to the GIANTS, I thought they outworked us in that first quarter, and our group has shown a maturity, particularly over the last four or five weeks, which I’m really pleased with. The mature response at quarter time, and to put the game on our terms through playing roles and also through work rate, was really important for us.” 

Arnell on reviewing the season and finals hopes 

“There is a sense of disappointment that we're not playing finals, because I think anyone who's seen us play footy in the second half of the year, and even the Round 3 win against the SUNS, when we held the scoring record for a small period of time over North Melbourne, we've shown that our best is very, very good. Earlier in the year, the gap between our best and our worst was far too big. So it’s a sense of disappointment that we're in that position now, and it's likely we miss finals.” 

“But then there’s also a sense of maturity in how we've responded to that. We've seen other teams who don't start seasons well and continue to spiral, and our group hasn't done that. The last two years, we've started not great, and obviously last year made a prelim and this year have played some exceptional footy. I talked from day one of pre-season this year – the way we go about things and how we do things is more important. We are disappointed that it seems we won't play finals, but I do think the way that we've played and the way that the group has remained as connected as they are is really important for seasons to come.” 

Arnell on what elements of the game her group will work on in the off-season 

“I think our offence has always been a strong element of our team, and I think we're top four in the competition for scoring. We currently have Gemma Houghton and Indy Tahau as leading goal kickers, and a lot of selfless players to support that. I think you would have seen Matilda Scholz has really unlocked some aggressive offence in her game, and her contest has been incredible.” 

“We've got a back line who – I think Teagan Germech is 23 now, and Ebony O’Dea is 26 or 27, and everyone else is sort of 22, 21 and 20 (years of age) – so it's a really, really young back line. We have let through far too much score, particularly in the early stages of the year. So, I think our contest has improved throughout the season, and our offence has been really strong throughout, but we certainly have room to grow in our team defence.” 

Arnell on Indy Tahau’s season and her move to the forward line 

“There wouldn't be any more versatile players in the competition – she can play anywhere. And she did actually play forward when she did her ACL a few years ago. I think it was important for us. We had Julia Teakle injured until this last game; Caitlin Wendland unfortunately did a knee in our pre-season. So, missing those two, and Lauren Young coming in late in our season, we had a need up forward, and we found in the early stage of the season we didn't have enough aerial contests in our front half, and so we knew Indy would provide that.” 

 “To now see her as league leading goal kicker, and hopefully secure that, it's a strong sign of all the work that she's put in for such a long period of time, and also what the team has done to generate that amount of score. We've got a lot of really selfless small forwards who work really hard to generate that sort of score, and our mids have unlocked some incredible offence, particularly in the back half of the year – so that's special.” 

 Arnell on Julia Teakle’s return to the side 

“Julia Teakle is still in her early 20s as well, and someone who has stepped up as co-vice-captain with Amelie Borg this year. She just had such a rough run with her injuries – even last year she missed a bunch of games. I think you can see the quality of player and the quality of person; we absolutely love what she brings both on and off field. I’m really pleased for her today.”

“I think something that may not have been noticed – knowing we were trying to support Gem and Indy in that last quarter to kick some more goals – she was the first person to put her hand up and say, ‘I'll sit on the bench for longer, I want those two to get there.’ For an early 20-year-old person who has not played until today in this season, what a teammate.” 

Arnell on Ash Woodland’s milestone 75th game 

“I’m so proud of Ash. I think she's someone who you would have seen was absolutely in her comfort zone at the Crows, moved out of her comfort zone prior to that to get drafted by Melbourne, and has now found a place in our midfield at Port Adelaide.” 

“To have been, in a previous life, a league leading goal kicker, and we played her in spurts as a mid last year when we needed a bit more speed… through the off-season and pre-season period this year there was a spot in the midfield up for grabs, and I think she's taken that with both hands. We've seen enormous growth from her inside the contest and outside the contest as a midfielder this year, and that's really exciting.”