AFLW Lauren Arnell - Our inaugural AFLW coach

[Ford Fairlane]

“It is a privilege to be appointed Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFLW coach and an opportunity I am very much looking forward to,” Ms Arnell said.

“The history of success at Port Adelaide and the expectations that come with this are not lost on me. It’s what has drawn me to this club. I want be part of something great and I can already see we are building something special within our AFLW program.

“I look forward to working with Juliet Haslam, Rachael Sporn and Naomi Maidment to develop a program that guides and mentors the next generation of AFLW talent.

“I’m also excited by the Club’s progressive, bold vision, including the transformation of the Alberton Oval precinct and the role that our AFLW program will play in shaping the Port Adelaide Football Club of the future.

“Our female athletes will enjoy world class training facilities and will provide future generations of young girls and women a pathway to represent Port Adelaide on the national stage.

“To be the first AFLW coach in a club that is more than 150 years old is truly humbling and I can’t wait for our team to write their own chapter in Port Adelaide’s rich history of success.”

Lauren Arnell biography

• Three-time All-Australian
• AFLW Player, Carlton 2017-2018 and Brisbane Lions 2019-2021
• Inaugural Captain Carlton FC, 2017
• Brisbane Lions AFLW premiership player 2021
• 36 AFLW games across five seasons
• Head Coach, Brisbane Lions Academy 2020 – 2022
• AFLCA Coaching Scholarship with Brett Ratten
  Brett Ratten

  Age

  52

  Ht

  184cm

  Wt

  88kg

  Pos.

  Mid

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  22.4

  5star

  K

  12.1

  4star

  HB

  10.3

  5star

  M

  2.9

  3star

  T

  3.0

  5star

  No current season stats available

  D

  26.4

  5star

  K

  13.8

  5star

  HB

  12.6

  5star

  M

  3.4

  4star

  T

  1.6

  4star

  mentoring 2019
• Design and implementation of AFL She Can Coach program
• AFLW Competition Committee 2018 – 2021
• AFLPA Advisory Board 2016 – 2021

 

[Grave Danger]

 

[EskimoPAFC]

She had me when she made a whole speech without mentioning that someone has to lose

 

[Duckimus Prime]

She had me when she made a whole speech without mentioning that someone has to lose

The words are ok, as long as they're followed by "and we're making sure that it will be our opposition".

But you'd never get that from Ken.

 

[TazD]

She had me when she made a whole speech without mentioning that someone has to lose

Also didn't say "youse" ️️

 

[Grave Danger]

IF we get Erin as a player, has there ever been a case in the AFL/AFLW era where a player is older than the coach? Maybe Tuck, Bradley or Fletcher?

 

[Ford Fairlane]

 

[Ford Fairlane]

 

[Port85]

Good to see that we went with someone with coaching experience not just a male player with a name but no experience (Looking at you Dal Santo).

Teaching experience is good to see.

If Erin comes, would be a good player / assistant / Captain.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Bit piss poor to do the announcement by Zoom. Wouldn't do it for a bloke.

 

[TeeKray]

Just watched the presser. On face value, Arnell seems really impressive. Confident and likeable character. Getting pretty excited for our women's team, starting to feel a bit more real now.

 

[TeeKray]

Bit piss poor to do the announcement by Zoom. Wouldn't do it for a bloke.

I think it was covid related.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

IF we get Erin as a player, has there ever been a case in the AFL/AFLW era where a player is older than the coach? Maybe Tuck, Bradley or Fletcher?

Tuck was younger than Alan Joyce and Yabby jeans.

Bradley and Wayne Brittain might be close.

Fletcher played under Sheedy, Matthew Knights, James Hird and Mark Thompson. He's younger than all of them.

The great Vic Cumberland might be the exception. Played all around Oz even in NZ, won the Magarey medal with Sturt, was 38 when he quit playing for St Kilda and went off to WWI and then played a few games in 1920 for the Saints and is the oldest ever V/AFL player at 43 years old. No idea about who was his coach in 1920.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I wrote elsewhere that I want our next coach to either be like Choco or Clarko and have been an ex teacher, or be a teaching coach if they have only worked professionally in footy.

Looks like I got my wish with Lauren, and lets hope its repeated with our next men's coach.

 

[Mufc1975]

any chance we can swap her for Hinkley please

 

[VineValerian]

Also didn't say "youse" ️️

Or "work hardery for longery".

 

[Smartys Power]

I think it was covid related.

Waited this long to announce it, what harm would a max 7 day delay do?

 

[Spadge]

Waited this long to announce it, what harm would a max 7 day delay do?

its 2022. What difference does it make if someone does a face to face presser or a zoom/teams presser
its common these days

 

[Grave Danger]

Tuck was younger than Alan Joyce and Yabby jeans.

Bradley and Wayne Brittain might be close.

Fletcher played under Sheedy, Matthew Knights, James Hird and Mark Thompson. He's younger than all of them.

The great Vic Cumberland might be the exception. Played all around Oz even in NZ, won the Magarey medal with Sturt, was 38 when he quit playing for St Kilda and went off to WWI and then played a few games in 1920 for the Saints and is the oldest ever V/AFL player at 43 years old. No idea about who was his coach in 1920.

I wondered about Brent Harvey and Rhys Shaw - Shaw is younger, but Harvey retired before he got the head coach's job.

 

[tribey]

“Embrace Expectation”™

Can we insulate the AFLW team from the plastic platitudes at least?

 

[Ford Fairlane]

 

[philreich]

I look forward to actually watching a Port team that plays attractive football - it's been a while.

 

[Smartys Power]

its 2022. What difference does it make if someone does a face to face presser or a zoom/teams presser
its common these days

Just because it’s common doesn’t make it any less s**t.

 

[VineValerian]

On the Lion's website it states Lauren was a Development coach (presumably for males and females) and Head Women's coach last year.

Won an AFL scholarship in Oct 2021 which would ultimately lead to a Level 3 coaching accreditation.

Teaching background. Great communicator. Positive outlook.
Respects our tradition and heritage, which is what drew her here.

Ticks plenty of boxes. Sounds stoked to be coming here.

Welcome to Port and best of luck, Lauren.

 

[Marmozet]

Our Loz