AFLW 2024: Port Adelaide, Adelaide speak ahead of round 1 Showdown

Port Adelaide was years behind the Crows when it launched its AFLW team. But the Power hopes a huge off-season move will help them make the big leap from bottom-four side to finals contender.

Improving fitness and contested ball work have been key focus areas for Port Adelaide as it looks to bridge the gap with the best AFLW sides.

Coming off a 15th-placed finish and 2-7-1 win-loss record, the Power hired ex-South Australian Cricket Association strength and conditioning coach Anthony Gallomarino as its head of high performance earlier this year.

Port previously had two staff members split their time between the women’s and men’s programs, but Gallomarino was solely working with the AFLW squad.

A longer lead-up time with draftees and being able to ask more of players in their off-season due to 12-month contracts being part of the competition’s new collective bargaining agreement are other factors that have helped the Power become fitter since last campaign.

Port Adelaide’s improvement will get its first major test when it opens its new season against the Crows at Alberton Oval on Saturday night.

“Across the pre-season the majority of the group have PBed (recorded personal-bests), whether that’s on the track or in the gym,” new Port Adelaide captain Janelle Cuthbertson said.

“Just having that dedicated resource who’s 100 per cent dedicated to our program has made such a huge difference for us.

Justine Mules-Robinson celebrates a goal with Power recruit Kirsty Lamb. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Adding another pre-season and off-season into a really young group is something you can’t take for granted.

“Adelaide are a phenomenal team … and for us it’ll be a great test to see how we stand up.”

The Power recruited ex-Western Bulldogs “contest beast” Kirsty Lamb – the niece of two-time Port Adelaide premiership player Paul Rizonico – to add experience in its young midfield.

Daniel Merrett’s arrival from Brisbane as a full-time assistant coach helped the Power to increase its off-season skills sessions.

Cuthbertson said the Power was not putting a ceiling on what it wanted to achieve this year.

Adelaide has tried to address its record in close games through plenty of scenario-based training.

Ebony Marinoff hopes the Crows can shake their monkey in close games this season. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

The Crows were 0-3 last season in games decided by a goal or less, most notably in a qualifying final against Brisbane (two points) and preliminary versus North Melbourne (one).

It was Adelaide’s second straight exit at that stage of the major round.

“Hopefully the work we’ve done over the past eight or nine months, if we get there again, we’re better and well equipped to win those games,” new Adelaide co-captain Ebony Marinoff said.

Port is hoping for a sellout crowd at its first home Showdown and has added a temporary stand at Alberton.

The Power may be dealt a blow by having reigning best-and-fairest Abbey Dowrick sidelined due to a finger injury.

While there were pre-game barbs and massive fallout from the men’s Showdown a fortnight ago, Marinoff said “the carnage from the last couple of weeks is something we probably haven’t built”.

“I might be biased but it’s the best rivalry in the game,” the six-time All-Australian said.

Adelaide beat Port by 30 points at Norwood in their season-opening match last year.

Originally published as AFLW 2024: Port Adelaide, Adelaide speak ahead of round 1 Showdown