There are moments in life that become impossible to separate. 

For Port Adelaide AFLW senior coach Glenn Strachan, one of those moments came in the same week he learned he would lead the club's AFLW program and welcomed his first child, Isla, with wife Connor.  

The two milestones arrived almost simultaneously, creating a whirlwind few days that Strachan admits he and his family wouldn't change. 

"I remember sitting in hospital with Isla, one day old, not even one day old, and fielding phone calls and text messages from so many people at the Port Adelaide Football Club, it was amazing," Strachan recalled on club podcast Peeled. 

But his gratitude extends well beyond the football club, with wife Connor’s support at the centre of turning his coaching dream into a reality.   

Having a newborn while relocating to Adelaide to begin his first senior coaching role presented challenges, but Strachan is quick to credit Connor for helping make the move possible. 

"Having her just three days before our baby was born be like, 'Yep, go for it, go to Adelaide and see if it works out’…I can’t thank her enough. It was crazy.” 

Family has shaped much of Strachan's coaching journey, with Connor, an accomplished 800-metre runner, giving him a unique perspective on women's sport, helping him better understand both the opportunities and challenges female athletes experience. 

"I feel really lucky in that Connor has shown me that pathway. To see both the celebration of women's sport that she's been able to be a part of, but also some of the challenges that are there, I feel really fortunate that I've learned some of those lessons through her."  

His coaching style is built on preparation, structure and clarity, something that has been evident across his first pre-season at the helm.  

Before entering football full-time, Strachan worked as a physical education teacher, an experience he believes continues to influence his approach. 

"What you learn early on as a teacher is that students, or in this case players, will know when you're not prepared. I will always try and be the most prepared that I can be."  

Preparation, however, is only one piece of the puzzle. Strachan also places enormous value on communication, drawing inspiration from author Brené Brown's philosophy that "clear is kind". 

"I can be strong in the way that I deliver messages because ultimately, I want the best for that person and that player. But I do always hope that it comes across with an element of care."  

That philosophy became his first priority after arriving at Alberton. 

Once his family had settled, Strachan scheduled one-on-one meetings with every player on the list, spending between 30 minutes and an hour learning how each individual preferred to communicate and receive feedback.  

"The way that I give feedback, even if it's the same, is going to be different because not only are they different in terms of their experience, they're also just different people. 

"It's a responsibility of mine and also my coaches to know how we're going to deliver that."  

The importance of connection extends beyond the AFLW program. 

Since arriving at Alberton, Strachan has developed a close working relationship with AFL senior coach Josh Carr, with the pair sharing ideas throughout the pre-season while navigating their first senior coaching roles together.  

"He's been amazing in the way that we've been able to work together. I've bounced a lot of ideas off him. He's also asked for my thoughts and how I do things, and how can we do it together. 

"It's been nice to be senior coaches for the first time together."  

It's a relationship that reflects the one-club approach Strachan believes makes Port Adelaide unique. 

He points to the everyday moments at Alberton, including sharing facilities and crossing paths in the gym, as examples of a culture built on genuine connection.  

Carr has also reinforced the club's values by sharing his own experiences with the AFLW group. 

"He talked about his time as a player and the differences of when he was at Port versus when he was at Freo. What he felt was a real sense of connection. 

“I've seen nothing but that, not just from him, but from the entire club."  

With a win in Round 1, he’s looking ahead to his first season in charge, and isn't focused on short-term milestones. Instead, he's excited by the possibility of building something that endures. 

"I feel really fortunate in the backing of the club and where they see this program going. I think they're invested. 

"I just see where this group, that are primarily under 23 years of age, can get to in the time that we're all together. 

"Hopefully, we look back in three, five and 10 years' time and just think, 'Gee, that was the start of something special'."