Port Adelaide vs Essendon

Chapter 1 of Herstory closes on Sunday afternoon with Lauren Arnell's side finishing its 10-game campaign in Port Adelaide's inaugural season of AFLW.

Like Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell, Wood was part of the successful playing program at the Darebin Falcons. Essendon this week is facing the same challenge Port Adelaide endured after the history-making first Showdown at Adelaide Oval. More relevant to the Port Adelaide scouting team are the notes from Essendon's hard-earned four-point win against Sydney a week earlier at Princes Park - a match decided with a goal umpiring error late probably denied Sydney its first win in W. OF the four newcomers to the AFLW, Essendon is the best performed in the wins column from W Season 7. The season will close with insight on defence where Port Adelaide has been so well served this season by intercept defender Alex Ballard, the manic Ebony O'Dea and the calmness of Indy Tahau. The vision for next season would get a filip with a scoring spree in the finale at Alberton from the boots of Houghton, Jade de Melo, Lily Johnson, Justine Mules and Brittany Perry … It would be with the scoreboard repeatedly turning over, as it did against Sydney at Alberton in round 4. "It is disappointing to miss Alex Ballard this weekend," said Port Adelaide senior coach Lauren Arnell. "We are at home; we have that massive advantage and we have one of the best supporter bases in the competition. Port Adelaide has played all 30 "Inaugurals". They are both focused on the "big picture" in building their inaugural AFLW programs. "With the pre-season having been cut short and the quick turnaround in seasons, the club has done an amazing job to bring us together, to build that connection between us ...