Port Adelaide AFLW senior coach Glenn Strachan says his side has made strong progress throughout his first pre-season at the helm, with the Power's evolving game style, growing resilience and blend of emerging and experienced talent giving the coaching group confidence ahead of Round 1. 

Speaking to the media at Alberton ahead of Sunday's final match simulation against Adelaide, Strachan reflected on his first 12 weeks in charge, provided an update on Ellie Hampson's hip injury and expected recovery timeline, and explained how the club will balance experience and opportunity in its final pre-season hit-out. 

Strachan on his first pre-season as a senior coach 

"It's crazy, it's come around so quick. It’s been a great 11, nearly 12 weeks with the group, and I've enjoyed so much of it. I've enjoyed our staff group, our team coming together, and I've enjoyed the playing group coming together. We brought in four new players this pre-season, so it's been nice to bring it all together and play against some pretty good opponents in our trial games. We’ve still got the Crows game on the weekend, but I feel like we've made some good progress in what we're trying to achieve." 

Strachan on the move interstate and welcoming his first baby, Isla 

"I’ve probably lost more sleep from the baby than I have footy, which is a good sign! I've really enjoyed it so far. The move from Melbourne, which is frantic and fast-paced, has been nice. I really enjoy the pace of Adelaide - everything's pretty close and pretty connected. I mean, the weather's been great for us. Not much warmer than Melbourne, but a little bit warmer than Melbourne, which is always appreciated. I've had a great time, and thankfully my family has as well." 

Strachan on the change in game style ahead of the season 

"Probably team defence is the one we've gone after the most from a game model perspective. We've looked at ways that we can defend the ground against a good opposition, and that's what we've been drilling down on. And a little bit around our offence and just how we move the ball. I think it'd be no surprise to anyone that comes to watch our games that it looks a little bit different. I feel like we're in a pretty good spot now across all three phases - offence, contest and defence - and hopefully we can put it together in the early parts of the season." 

Strachan on his main takeaways from the practice game against Melbourne 

"It was a great contest, and a fantastic hit-out against a really strong team. I think my overarching philosophy when coming away from that game was just how well we fought to the last siren and how resilient our group was. I think we saw so much of what we're trying to go after come to the fore. It's never perfect, but I just felt like we saw so much benefit from that game in what we're trying to get right." 

Strachan on welcoming Logan Austin as assistant coach 

"It's great to have Logan (Austin) in. We'd initially brought him in as a development coach, but when Braedon Talbert got a different job outside of footy, it was a great opportunity for Logan to step up and become the forwards coach. It's a nice little homecoming for him to be back here in Adelaide with his wife. He's fitted in seamlessly to our program. He's got a great footy IQ, so that's been nice to lean on, and I think the key position players love having him around because he's just got that footy nous. I think I asked him early who the best player he ever played on was, and he said Buddy Franklin. So, I feel like if you can combat Buddy - maybe not that he did - but if you can at least try it, then that's some pretty good knowledge to pass on." 

Strachan on Matilda Scholz's selection in the Australian team 

"She was strong on the weekend. It's a great opportunity for her in the Australia game to show what she can do and what she's been working on. She's had a great pre-season, which I'm sure people that watched the game, it'll come as no surprise to them. I’m really excited for her. We were talking through what she needs to achieve this week, and ultimately it just came back to having fun and enjoying the moment because it's a pretty cool honour. I'm sure the group will watch a fair bit of it. Matilda's a really connected player in our group, so I'm sure all the girls will be supporting her throughout the game." 

Strachan on the hit-out against Adelaide this Sunday 

"I think it's more about how competitive we can be across the three phases. We felt like we've got parts of our game right across all three games that we've played so far, and hopefully we see an evolution again this weekend. I’m less worried about the result and more focused on what we can see from our line groups - forwards, mids, backs - and just our individual players. I think the four games have given great opportunity to players that maybe didn't or wouldn't have had opportunity before, like our younger players playing across maybe three of those games. If we see a competitive game, then I'll be really happy." 

Strachan on team selection for the final match simulation 

"In parts, we will (pick our stronger side). We’d like to see some stuff come together before Round 1. But no, I'm not treating this as a final hit-out where we need to see everything come together. As I said before about our younger players, I think it's still a great opportunity for them. So, we're going to have a good mix of experienced and also some of our new girls play, which I think is really exciting. So a young forward who is 19 to 20 years of age, playing with Justine (Mules-Robinson), who's played 10 years, I think that's got a lot of value as well. So no, not a full hit-out from that respect, but we'll still try and be really competitive, and I think we will be." 

Strachan on how they've reviewed the Crows' game style ahead of Sunday 

"They’ve obviously got some players playing in the Australia v. Ireland game too, so they'll be playing some of their younger players. I think they're exciting in the way that they're playing right now... hopefully, I don't say that too often this year, but I think they're changing the way that they play a little bit, and it’ll be a great contest and challenge for us to combat some of that, hopefully. If anything, it'll just give us a good insight into later in the year when we are playing for points." 

Strachan on Ellie Hampson's hip injury 

"We're still a little bit unsure of exactly what the timeline looks like, mainly because she's such a pro that she's trying to get back faster, as most athletes do. She'll miss the early part of the season; it might even be the first half of the season if it goes that way. She does everything right. I couldn't ask for any more from her as a player and a leader. She's only just come into this program, she already is so infectious with what she does, and the group love her and have supported her the whole way through the injury so far and will continue. I'm really confident that when she gets back, she'll play some great footy for us, so that's exciting." 

Strachan on Indy Tahau's pre-season 

"Indy’s had a great pre-season. Obviously off the back of last year, when she had a successful season and kicked the most goals ever, is something that shouldn't be overshadowed. She's working really hard on parts of her game that last year she wasn't happy with. Which, to kick 25 goals and not be happy with some parts of your game, it’s a great way to look at it from my end because it shows she always wants to get better. Her performances so far have been really strong, and hopefully she carries that into the season, but I'm also thankful that she's trying to get better all the time."