With proud Tasmanian Luke Doerner set to take the reins of the state's inaugural Hockey One women's campaign, the possibility of forming a junior female academy got him over the line.
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Having been a part of Australian and Belgian national sides since his international retirement in 2012, the 39-year-old said changes need to be made within the state's system.
"I think Hockey Tasmania are starting to implement some strategies that is going to improve the game in our state," Doerner said.
As a condition of his signing, Doerner and Hockey Tasmania are combining to develop a female junior academy.
"I think that is a good chance to develop as many athletes as we can and give them pathways into high levels of hockey."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
With Greater Northern League players extended an open invite to participate in training sessions over the next two Wednesdays, the six-time Champions Trophy winner admits that while he doesn't know much about the prospects on offer, he is keen to get up to speed.
"It's an elite level sport where you're playing for your state so we are going to be playing to win."
"We aren't playing just to make up the numbers or to be competitive, we are on the level and want to be on the level to win games."
Doerner's coaching announcement comes as former Hockeyroos international Amelia Spence signaled her Tassie Tigers intentions, a prospect which excites the newly-announced leader.
"I touched base with her when I was over in Belgium and I'm looking forward to obviously getting her involved.
"She's a good athlete and she can really show the way for some of the younger athletes getting involved with the squad."
A fan of the revamped competition, Doerner said that while the temptation to recruit mainland fill-up players, the focus is on growing Tasmania's athletes as they get underway in October.
"I think we have a lot to choose from in the state and have Tasmanians around the country that have put their hands up so we would like to get them involved as well."
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