PREMIERSHIP coach Bec Goddard has returned to the NAB AFLW competition, named as Hawthorn's inaugural AFLW coach for the 2022/23 season.

Goddard previously coached Adelaide to the first ever AFLW flag in 2017, and mutually parted ways with the club after the 2018 season.

She was appointed coach of the Hawks' VFLW side ahead of the (ultimately cancelled) 2020 season, making her official coaching debut with the club this year.

"The club has been fortunate enough to work with Bec over the past two years and she has been an amazing part of our Hawthorn family," Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves said.

"Confirming Bec as our coach and our leader of this new era in our history fills us with an enormous amount of pride and confidence into the direction that our club is taking.

"The club’s vision for the future is clear, to create a club that is successful, sustainable, socially inclusive and equally focused on both men’s and women’s programs."

As it stands, Goddard is the sole female coach at the top level, with no women holding senior coaching roles for the upcoming 2021/22 season, although Port Adelaide has been vocal about its desire to appoint a woman to the role.

The 2021/22 season will see the existing 14 teams compete, with Hawthorn, Essendon, Port Adelaide and Sydney joining the following year to round out the AFLW.

"I’m over the moon, we’ve been waiting for ages so I’m so excited for our fans, our family and our friends to finally be a part of the AFLW," Goddard said.

"I think the best bit about it is the evolution and the shift in the footy club and how important it is for the club to have a complete family.

"Seeing how passionate and how invested everyone is in being a part of this new journey is also a very inspiring thing."