Port Adelaide AFLW senior coach Glenn Strachan says his side is ready to embrace the challenge of Round 1 as it prepares to open its 2026 NAB AFLW campaign against Fremantle in Perth. 

Speaking to the media at Alberton ahead of his first game as senior coach, Strachan reflected on the lessons taken from pre-season, the evolution of Port Adelaide’s game style, the emergence of young talent and the importance of experienced players in setting the standard early in the season. 

He also discussed how Matilda Scholz is managing her rising profile, provided an update on the club’s injury list and outlined what fans can expect from the Power’s latest injury replacement player signing, Emily Elkington. 

Strachan on Round 1 preparation 
“I'm not sure that you ever really feel ready, but Round 1 is super exciting. It’s our trip over to Perth for the year, so we're all guns blazing, and we'll train really well today, I'm sure, and then we'll gear up for a tight game against Fremantle. I think that our group's ready, and we're ready to play a game now after four trial games.” 

Strachan on what the side took away from the pre-season clash against Fremantle 
“We learnt plenty. Both our players and our coaching staff came away excited by what we saw, and I'm sure they feel the same way. They're a really tough, competitive team. We had a different mix when we played them last time. We had some senior players not play, and I'm expecting some of them to play this week. I thought it was a great hit-out and competitive, as I said, and hopefully we get a different result this week. We’re just excited for the opportunity and can't wait to get over there.” 

Strachan on Round 1 selection 
“We're pretty close to a full list available for selection. We've got a couple of injuries to some of our key players, and we've also got some players that have played across the pre-season in different spots to where they're going to play this week. We feel really confident with the group that will travel over there, and that we'll have a strong showing.” 

Strachan on injuries 
“Sachi Syme is going to miss at least this week. We hope that she's back, if not next week, then very soon after that. She's a great player for us, and I can't wait to see her out there. And then Ellie Hampson, who we got from Brisbane, is going to miss the early part of the season. She's got a hip issue, which she feels means she's ready to play. She told me that she was ready to play this week, and I said, 'Hey, you might have to sit this one out!' But she'll miss a couple, and then hopefully she'll be back, and we can't wait for her to play out here at Alberton.” 

Strachan on how the coaching group approached the four pre-season match simulations 
“We definitely managed player loads throughout the four games. It was clearly more games than what our players, and all players across the league, have played before, so we were conscious of that. We saw good snippets, I guess, of our best, but probably not bringing it all together. Ultimately, we saw each line play their strongest mix, or what we think is the strongest mix, across the pre-season, and hopefully we can bring it together this weekend. 

“I think the four pre-season hit outs were really important because I think what we were able to do, again across all three lines, was get some time and, I guess, some of the competitive experience into our younger players, which maybe they wouldn't have had that exposure to before. I've loved the four games and what we've been able to do, and hopefully that comes out sometime this year, and we can show our depth.” 

Strachan on challenging the reigning premiers 
“I'd like to think so (that his side can challenge North Melbourne). I think sides have been trying for 29 or more games to challenge teams like that. We won't play them in the regular season this year, but I feel really confident with the talent that we've got. And if we can put some structure in place that we've gone to work on over this 12-week period, then I think our best is going to challenge lots of teams.” 

Strachan on the change in game style 
“I think we're trying to blend it (offense and defence) as much as we can. So, the three phases for us, we think we're a really strong contest team, and we know that we can offensively score, but we're just trying to blend all three of them. So, for us, it's about how do we still score, but also not get exposed defensively? I think if you went to most clubs, they'd say something pretty similar. There's not many that are just looking to attack; most of them are trying to blend them in some way.” 

Strachan on the importance of starting strong in a 12-game season 
“Yeah, I think it is (important). I mean, if you look at Port Adelaide’s record, it's naturally been a slower start and then a build towards the end of the year. Hopefully, we blend some of that, where we can still finish strong, but I think it's pretty important with the 12 games and where you set yourself up. But, in saying that, it's always going to ebb and flow across those 12 games. With a list of only 30, sometimes you can get to Round 5 or 6, and things look very different to how you start.” 

Strachan on welcoming Emily Elkington as an injury replacement player 
“She's played more footy than any of us because she's been playing VFLW this season. She's a great competitor and a strong small forward. She's really skillful, and that can hopefully help us offensively. But, at the same time, she loves to tackle. I think she averaged nine tackles across her VFL games this year, and I think she had 14 against North Melbourne, which, if she can do that against an AFLW team, would be nice at some point. She's a great player, but she's a great person too. She's uprooted herself from Melbourne for the opportunity, and I’m sure she’ll go really well.” 

Strachan on who to watch from the emerging talent on his list 
“I would say look for Liv Crane down back. I think she's growing every time she comes out and trains. So, not to put too much pressure on her as a defender, but I think sometimes I sit out here and watch her and forget that she's 19. She's really exciting, and what she can do is just going to help us. So, I'd keep an eye on both her and Sophie. They are going to be really exciting.” 

Strachan on the talent coming through from grassroots football 
“I don't know that it's ever been stronger, and I think what they've had for a long time now is pathways and coaching. So, it's great that these girls coming in now have played footy for a long time. I'm excited by all the talent across the league and the young players and what they can show. But, at the same time, you can't take away from the experience on our list and what they can do, especially in Round 1. We'll be leaning on our experienced players just as much to set the tone.” 

Strachan on Matilda Scholz’s rising fame 
“She’s pretty good. She takes it all in her stride, Tilds, to her credit. I sent her a nice message after the Women's Health cover went out and just said, 'Hey, I'm really proud of you and I love what you've done,' and, typical Matilda, she would have had five million messages, I'm sure! I think, if anything, she's getting better and better at that sort of stuff. She knows that she can be a really, really good footballer, and then she can also be a great person outside of that and do everything she's doing from a media perspective.” 

Strachan on the role Scholz is playing in growing the game 
“I think it's crucial. I think when fans come to watch Matilda, they're excited every time they watch her. I read some of the Women's Health story, and she was talking about who she idolised growing up, and hopefully now people are putting her in the same boat as the men's athletes. I hope that young boys and young girls are looking up to someone like Matilda and other players across the league and thinking, 'Wow, I'd love to play that way when I'm older, and I'd love to be on the cover of magazines.' It’s exciting for her and for the league.” 

Strachan on how Scholz manages the pressure of being a role model 
“I think she's pretty measured in that way. No doubt there's an element of you have to like it and want to do it, but I think she's pretty good with it too, where she doesn't let it overwhelm her too much. I think she handles it brilliantly, to be honest. I think, again, we forget that she's only 21. I think that's something that maybe goes unnoticed if people are out there watching it.”