“That’s the style of footy we should be seeing in the AFLW” - Arnell

Port coach, Lauren Arnell, didn’t hide her excitement after Port beat Richmond on Sunday at Alberton Oval to play Hawthorn.

“Oh, it’s amazing,” Arnell began.

“I think last week here, beating the Giants in the last minute is incredible, but to watch a complete performance against a very, very good team in Richmond, yeah I’m so proud.

“I’ve been talking pretty bullish for the last three years about building offense.

“To be able to put an offensive game today and be strong in the contest and defend really well [is pleasing].”

Port Adelaide have now won seven games in a row, Arnell has put this down to the growing maturity of her group;

“I have no doubt that’s the best footy we’ve played, strongest four quarters of footy we’ve played. We had to play that well to beat them today and I’m really pleased.

Arnell was quick to talk about the journey to this point for Port Adelaide;

“We’ve come from a long way back too, it’s been a lot of hard work.

“It’s been a lot of hard work by a lot of people and there’s a lot of staff, coaches and players who in the program in the first couple of years that not in it at the moment. [I’d like] to acknowledge everyone that’s worked toward this point.”

However, Arnell was quick to look toward the future too;

“A lot of the hard slog that we’ve had in the previous two years has been about sustainable success.

“We are so excited and then it’s been about how can we get better back next week.

Against GWS, Port were missing superstars Matilda Scholz, Abbey Dowrick, and Juila Teakle. Arnell was quick to mention just how vital all three were against the Tigers;

“Matilda [Scholz] and Abbey [Dowrick] make a significant difference to our team, I think it was a real team performance today,” Arnell stated.

“We had every single player stand up and play their role.”

“[Juila Teakle] is just an incredible teammate and a really consistent performer and she’s someone you have full trust in.

“It was obviously a month out, [and] as soon as that injury goes [you’d think] there’s moments where she might have a little bit of self doubt, but she just turns up.

Port now play Hawthorn in the second semi-final.