PORT Adelaide has appointed former All-Australian Brisbane defender and inaugural Gold Coast co-captain Sam Virgo as an AFLW assistant coach.

Virgo will join Lauren Arnell's coaching panel for the Power's second AFLW season, replacing Hamish Hartlett, who has crossed to the AFL men's team.

The pair overlapped for one year at Brisbane in 2019 when Arnell moved from Carlton, before Virgo shifted to continue her playing career at the Suns.

The 35-year-old is originally from South Australia, and played 29 AFLW matches over five seasons, one of which was missed due to a torn ACL.

Virgo has completed a Level 3 Coaching Course, and was the first woman appointed as head coach of a national under-17s (usually under-16s, adjusted for one COVID-affected year) boys side in Queensland. 

More recently, she has been an assistant coach with Coorparoo Kings men's team in the QFA and has been an AFLW All-Australian selector for the past two seasons.

"I feel excited and thrilled for this opportunity," Virgo said.

"I look forward to further contributing to the AFLW foundations of this proud and historic club by drawing on my previous experience in an expansion environment.

"Loz (Arnell) is very measured, and one of her strengths is her ability to apply perspective and connect with people. She also says it how it is. I look forward to being in an environment she is creating and adding value whilst learning from the coaching team and further developing my coaching craft."

Port Adelaide said the remainder of its AFLW coaching panel will be confirmed in the coming weeks.