Club Statement
Statement from the Hobart Football Club:
The Hobart Football Club (HFC) board has determined that the club will not be in a position to field a Women’s team in 2021, making the difficult decision to place our Women’s side into Recess for the 2021 SFLW Season.
This decision was made considering a number of factors, none more so than what the club believes to be a systematic failure of AFL Tasmania to stabilise the multiple flailing women’s leagues that already exist throughout the state under a common set of administrative rules. The introduction of more leagues is further, impeding the ability to nurture existing Teams to become viable and competitive.
In an unstructured attempt by AFL Tasmania to grow women’s footy in Tasmania, many clubs have or are facing the tough decision to withdraw from these separate leagues. The HFC has made its views known that Womens Football in Tasmania has to date lacked the appropriate structure and resources to fund, support and grow a sustainable women’s competition.
Uncertainty surrounding the TSLW competition and the possible creation of an Old Scholars Womens competition, without a fully developed youth girls pathway has presented the club with challenges in fielding a side for the 2021 season.
HFC President, Josh Munting said “We’d like to thank those women’s players who supported our club over the past few seasons. When the time is right, and the women’s league structure is in a more healthy and sustainable position, the Club will welcome the opportunity to support and nurture women who would like to play footy for our great club.”
