Lauren Arnell

Lauren Arnell (born 15 March 1987) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. She played for the Carlton Football Club and the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Women's (AFLW) from 2017 to 2021, and was the head AFLW coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club from season 7 to 2025.

Arnell served as Carlton captain in the inaugural season of the competition in 2017 before moving to Brisbane at the end of the 2018 season, winning a premiership with the club before retiring. She became Port Adelaide's inaugural AFLW coach ahead of its first season in the competition in season 7, coaching the club to a preliminary final in 2024.

Early life and state league football Arnell played just one football match as a junior, in a school tournament in her last year of primary school.

She has represented Victoria at the AFL Women's National Championship on six occasions and been selected three times as an All-Australian. She played for the club in exhibition series matches through the end of 2016.

AFL Women's playing career

Carlton Arnell was signed as a priority player by Carlton in August 2016 ahead of the league's inaugural 2017 season. She had previously worked at the club in an off-field role, including in the development of Carlton's bid for a women's team licence. She was named the club's inaugural AFL Women's captain in January 2017. She made her debut in round 1, 2017, in the club and the league's inaugural match at Princes Park against .

Carlton signed Arnell for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017. She was replaced as captain by Brianna Davey in 2018, instead taking on the role of co-vice captain that season.

Brisbane On 28 May 2018, Arnell moved to Brisbane in a three-way deal in which Carlton received pick 40 and Collingwood received Nicole Hildebrand. Ahead of the 2021 AFL Women's season, Arnell made the decision to retire at the end of the season, a decision she announced in April 2021, following Brisbane's 18-point victory over Adelaide to claim the premiership.

Playing statistics

36 9 10 279 130 409 75 116 0.3 0.3 7.8 3.6 11.4 2.1 3.2

AFL Women's coaching career Arnell was appointed as the inaugural coach of 's AFLW side in April 2022, making her the first former AFLW player to become a senior coach. Arnell coached Port Adelaide to an eight-game winning streak and preliminary final in the 2024 season and finished with a 18-26 win-loss record over her four seasons as coach. She resigned from the position in January 2026.

Coaching statistics Statistics are correct to the end of the 2025 season

Personal life Arnell grew up on a cattle farm in the Victorian town of Clarkefield, 46 kilometres northwest of Melbourne.

Arnell studied physical education teaching at the University of Ballarat and has previously worked as a school teacher.

In July 2023, Arnell and her partner Lexi announced that Arnell was pregnant.

Off-field Arnell works as AFL Victoria's education and training manager.