The Prospect Hawks have had their bid for a TSL licence rejected by AFL Tasmania and will take no part in the State League competition after this season.
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The decision comes after extensive consultation between AFL Tasmania and Prospect Hawks club officials, including the assessment of the business case which the club submitted in support of their licence application to continue in the TSL after fielding a Development League side this season.
The Hawks had been former AFL Tasmania chief executive Scott Wade’s choice as the club to take over the licence left vacant with the demise of the Western Storm at the end of the 2015 season. Wade had agreed to allow the club to have until 2018 if necessary to field a senior TSL side.
But the new AFL administration has taken a different view determining that the most appropriate focus for the club was to continue building their comprehensive football programs at NTFA and community level.
“The Prospect Hawks has a bright future with approximately 400 players currently registered from junior to senior level in the NTFA and NTJFA, with an established base in the western suburbs of Launceston,” TSL general manager Carl Saunder said.
The decision leaves North Launceston and Launceston as the region’s two clubs and AFL Tasmania with decisions to make about the structure of the competition from next season and whether to stay with nine clubs and a bye in the roster.
Saunder said that while the Prospect Hawks will not be part of the TSL moving forward, the club remained critical to introducing the game to boys and girls at junior level and providing a pathway to open age football in Northern Tasmania.
“AFL Tasmania has committed to working with officials from the Prospect Hawks to identify other opportunities, including establishing girls and women’s team, developing the facilities at Prospect Park and exploring the possibility of fielding an U18 team in the NTFA,” he said.
“AFL Tasmania acknowledges the difficult circumstances placed upon Prospect Hawks FC in 2016, and the efforts of the players, coaches and staff who have continued to operate the Development League program to the best of their ability this year.”
“The club is to be commended for the way it has conducted itself throughout this process but ultimately AFL Tasmania determined this decision was in the best interest of the club and the TSL competition moving forward.”
Prospect Hawks Senior Football Club president Victor Marshall said the club was disappointed by the decision not to be granted a license in 2017 and beyond but understood AFL Tasmania’s decision.
“Every effort has been made to put the club in a position where it had the capacity to compete in the TSL senior competition but ultimately the club is better placed to focus on it’s comprehensive community football programs” he said.
“We will now look to reinforce our position in the Prospect community and pursue development opportunities for the club, including facility upgrades at Prospect Park, women’s football, and an under-18 team in the NTFA.”
