Launceston United have developed a partnership with NPLW side Heidelberg United which seeks to provide Tasmanian players with a pathway to the next level of the women's game.
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As the Birch Avenue club seeks to build on a maiden Women's Super League campaign which culminated in a second-place finish and cup final appearance, co-coach Frank Compton said the arrangement will also enable fringe Heidelberg players to get some game time in Tasmania.
"At the end of the season, we looked at what we could do to get Tasmania more involved in the national conversation," said Compton, who coaches United's WSL side with Lynden Prince.
"We're developing good contacts with Heidelberg and they are very keen. They have done something similar in New Zealand and see Tasmania as an untapped market.
"We want to create a pathway for players from here who aspire to that level. This gives them the opportunity to test themselves without having to move to Melbourne.
"It just takes away the fear of the move and we can be that connection with the mainland."
The partnership, which gives both clubs access to each others players, is also set to see the two Uniteds play a friendly in Tasmania in February.
Compton added: "It just means the players here will have an opportunity to develop alongside players from a higher level and young players coming in that are technically good enough can get senior exposure in leagues a bit less developed than the Victorian Premier League."
Heidelberg is one of eight teams in Victoria's NPLW including reigning champions Calder United who played a friendly against a Tasmanian rep team including United pair Jess Robinson and Gonya Luate in Launceston in April.
The club was founded in 1958 and has fielded a women's team since 1978.
Olympia's prolific striker Bonnie Davies also moved to Heidelberg in April after hitting 30 WSL goals in 2020.
Traditionally, aspiring Tasmanian players have had to move interstate to progress their careers, United's Emily Heazlewood being a prime example.
Having played at Birch Avenue from under-sevens including in boys' teams until under-18s, Heazlewood moved to South Australia last year and has since helped Salisbury Inter to a historic treble of the WNPL SA league, WNPL Cup and WNPL SA Grand Final victory over West Adelaide in which she scored the opening goal.
Training times at Birch Avenue are from 6.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
