Hawthorn Football Club acknowledges today’s announcement from the AFL Commission to set a timeline for submissions for expansion of the AFLW competition.
Hawthorn is disappointed that after months of discussion with the AFL today’s announcement still leaves the club unable to provide Hawthorn members and fans with the surety of a solid timeline for entry. However, today’s news will not diminish the club’s efforts in kicking down the door to securing entry to the AFLW competition in Season Seven which will commence in December 2022.
Hawthorn has long lobbied for an AFLW licence and despite the hurdles along the way, the club has stayed true to its commitment to furthering women’s participation and development of pathways in women’s football and is well prepared to field its own AFLW team.
To date, a significant part of the club’s commitment to furthering women’s participation and excellence in football has been focused on building participation, pathways and coaching capacity from the grassroots.
In 2017, Hawthorn was the first AFL club to obtain a license in the VFLW competition and consciously set out to develop a clear talent pathway through collaboration with, and support of, the EFNL’s Eastern Region Girls competition.
In 2018, Hawthorn was the first team to recognise the need to pay players at the VFLW level, to ensure equality and equity with the Hawthorn VFL men’s program.
Hawthorn were premiers in the VFLW competition in 2018 and had seven players drafted to AFLW clubs the following season.
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In 2021, Hawthorn seized the opportunity to continue to develop talent and provide tangible pathways for the development of women in football, becoming the first VFLW club to implement an all-female coaching panel.
Season 2021 has also seen the club host and play, a young developing female talent from a remote community outside of Katherine in the NT, ensuring that no barrier will prevent females from aspiring to play the game they love at the highest level.
Hawthorn’s development of women’s football is unique and speaks to the authenticity of the club’s desire to be credible and impactful in the space and to harness and develop the sport from grassroots through to elite. All of this, without an AFLW licence.
The development of the club’s future home, the Kennedy Community Centre is another step in creating a home base that is inclusive for all, one that promotes diversity, integration and opportunity.
The Kennedy Community Centre features purpose-built, equal facilities for the club’s men’s and women’s AFL teams. The development will also provide opportunities for the entire community with facilities to ensure the development is the home of women’s football in Melbourne’s south-east.
Hawthorn Acting CEO Ashley Klein highlighted the club’s pride in its already established work in women’s football.
“An AFLW team is the missing piece of the puzzle at Hawthorn. The club is proud of its work in the women’s football space to date but there is no doubt it does not feel whole without an AFLW team. The club is well prepared and well positioned to hit the ground running once we secure this important piece of Hawthorn’s future,” said Klein.
“Hawthorn has the clear support of our members and fans for an AFLW team. We will seize the opportunity to emphatically push our case for a licence for Season Seven through the submission process, which will highlight the many years of significant work we as a club have put into ensuring we are in the strongest position possible to field a women’s team.”
Hawthorn has previously submitted proposals to secure an AFLW licence and is well placed to again present a submission as a result of the Commission’s announcement today.
