Lauren Arnell named Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFLW coach

Player, captain and now coach. Lauren Arnell is taking the reins at Port Adelaide in a “special day” for the club.

The newly appointed head coach of Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFLW side is already dreaming about the first women’s Showdown, with Never Tear Us Apart playing before the first bounce.

On Tuesday, Port unveiled former Carlton captain and Brisbane premiership player Lauren Arnell as its inaugural AFLW head coach, with her saying the first Showdown would be a monumental moment in South Australia’s football history.

“I’ve already been dreaming about Adelaide Oval and (hearing) Never Tear Us Apart just before the first bounce,” Arnell said.

“It’s just such an exciting space for South Australian footy and for the Port Adelaide Football Club in particular, and I’m pretty keen for that to be a home game for us, that’s for sure.”

Lauren Arnell (L) pictured with then-Brisbane Lions teammate Ally Anderson. Picture: Richard Walker

Arnell was part of the Brisbane side that beat Adelaide by three goals in the 2021 AFLW grand final, bfeore announcing her retirement after the match.

“I cheekily do enjoy the fact that my last game of footy was beating the Crows in a grand final at Adelaide Oval, I’ll do everything I can (as the Power coach) to continue that,” she said.

But with the first games of the seventh season of the AFLW likely to be in late August, first on her agenda will be securing player signatures and then developing a game plan based around high scoring.

Port has made no secret that it will contact a number of high-profile, currently listed AFLW players, including the likes of Crows star Erin Phillips, who grew up supporting the Magpies of whom her father is an eight-time premiership winner.

Arnell and Emma Zielke of the Lions are hoisted by their teammates after winning the 2021 AFLW Grand Final. Picture: Getty

But reigning W-Award winner – and Arnell’s former Lions’ teammate – Emily Bates is reportedly fielding offers to join interstate clubs.

“Going back to due diligence and building the best possible program that we can, there’ll be a whole range of players that we speak to in the coming weeks,” she said.

“I’m a real believer that the most enjoyable footy is when you’re scoring goals, and so we expect a game plan based on working to score and also that pure competitiveness of being able to win one-on-one contest.

“But I’m really focused on building our list initially, because it’s worth having a game plan that doesn’t match your list … (but) we will have to formulate a game plan that suits the list that we’re able to build.”

Arnell, who will be the first former AFLW player to take on a senior coach role, said it was also important to develop a culture of positive role models.

“I take that very seriously in my life … to guide and develop our athletes and our people across the Port Adelaide football club, because culture is so valuable and creates an environment for high performance that is really the focus for us.”

Arnell becomes the first former AFLW player to take on a senior coaching role. Picture: Getty

Arnell will relocate from Brisbane to Adelaide by the end of the month to take up the full-time position, having been the head coach of the Lions’ Academy since 2020.

The 35-year-old also developed the AFL’s “She Can Coach” scholarship program in Victoria, which has invested in the development of the next wave of talented female coaches.

In the 2022 season, there were no female head coaches of any of the 14 AFLW clubs, but that will change from next season when four new clubs – including Port – enter the competition, with Arnell joining former Crows premiership coach Bec Goddard (Hawthorn) and Natalie Wood (Essendon) in the senior coaching ranks.

Port Adelaide’s head of AFLW Juliet Haslam said Arnell’s would continue the “proud legacy of women playing an important role in driving our club forward”.

“Lauren was incredibly impressive throughout the interview process… She has spent 10 years working as a teacher while also forging a career as a television and radio commentator on AFL and AFLW games across the last two years.

“Lauren lives for football and loves teaching and developing others.”