Port Adelaide AFLW coach Lauren Arnell ties the knot with long time partner Lexi Edwards

Lauren Arnell says her focus is well and truly on Hawthorn this week – but it’s been a big few days for the Port Adelaide AFLW coach. Find out about the surprise wedding, see the pics.

If Port Adelaide can defeat Hawthorn on the road on Sunday, then it was cap a very special week for Lauren Arnell.

On Monday, the Power’s AFLW coach married long-time partner Lexi Edwards.

The two tied the knot at the registry office and then went to the Botanic Gardens for photos with their best friends, who served as their witnesses, and finished with a dinner at Adelaide restaurant Golden Boy.

Arnell, who is expecting the couples first child in January, said it had been a big week but her focus was well and truly on taking on the Hawks in Frankston on Sunday.

Port Adelaide AFLW coach Lauren Arnell married long-time partner Lexi Edwards on Monday.

“It was a very quiet occasion on Monday afternoon but it was really special for my partner and myself, it has been a big week so far and I am looking forward to the game on the weekend,” she said.

“We have been engaged for two and a half years, and with a baby on a way and a whole range of other things – my partner actually is a senior coach at a SANFLW team and their pre-season kicks off next week so we had to sneak it in somewhere – it has been a good week so far and looking forward to the weekend and having a crack against the Hawks.”

The 17th placed Power head into the clash against the 14th placed Hawks on the back of a draw against top-eight side Gold Coast last time out.

The two tied the knot at the registry office and then went to the Botanic Gardens for photos.

But Arnell said they Power were still filthy at letting a winning position slip.

“We are filthy on the draw because I think even Cameron Joyce the Suns coach said that we had done so much to earn that win,” she said.

“So missing out on the win is one thing but the attitude in our group is always one of learning and growth and a reasonable amount of positivity involved but we are flat that we gave that one up.

“Just belief off drawing with the sixth placed team when we are sitting 17th of all places, if you don’t take belief out of that you kill yourself.”

Arnell said she was expecting an intense game with the Hawks the number one tackle team in the competition this season.

Originally published as Port Adelaide AFLW coach Lauren Arnell ties the knot with long time partner Lexi Edwards