Inaugural Hawthorn Football Club AFLW Senior Coach Bec Goddard has advised the club that she will retire from coaching.

Goddard first joined the brown and gold in 2019 as its VFLW senior coach, and also played an important role in helping Hawthorn secure an AFLW licence.

Following the licence being granted, Goddard was appointed as the club’s first AFLW senior coach in August 2021, going on to set up the foundations and steer the club through its first two seasons in the competition.

Prior to her time at Hawthorn, Goddard spent two years as senior coach of Adelaide in 2017 and 2018, which included leading the Crows to premiership success in the competition’s inaugural season.

In farewelling Goddard, Hawthorn Chief Executive Ashley Klein acknowledged her significant contribution to the brown and gold.

“There’s no doubting the enormous impact Bec has made at our club, her legacy as Hawthorn’s inaugural AFLW Senior Coach is one that won’t be forgotten,” Klein said.

“Along with being a pioneer of the competition, Bec has been a trailblazer for our AFLW program, and we want to thank her enormously for her passion, enthusiasm, and dedication.”

Hawthorn General Manager of Football Rob McCartney said the club wished Goddard all the best and would now begin the search for a new AFLW Senior Coach.

“We remain committed to investing and developing our next generation of talent to align with the club’s strategic priority in creating an elite AFLW program. We will get to work to recruit a new AFLW Senior Coach immediately.

“When we look back at Bec’s time at the club, she will be a part of so many of our first important moments. Bec will always be a special part of the Hawthorn fabric, and we wish her and her partner Shanrah the very best for the future.”

In departing the club, Goddard paid tribute to those who shared in her journey.

“Having been a life-long Hawthorn supporter, it was a dream come true to lead the club as its first AFLW Senior Coach,” Goddard said.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with an incredible group of players, coaches, and staff across the past two seasons, and I would like to thank all of them for their support, love and care.

“The time is right for the club and myself to embark upon new directions, and I leave Hawthorn proud of everything we achieved.”