Tasmanian football coach charged with rape, club president resigns over private messages

Former Bracknell coach Josh Adams to face court early next year as league refers matter to AFL

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Read Time2 min

A former northern Tasmanian football coach has been charged with three counts of rape, prompting the resignation of the Bracknell Football Club president after private messages she exchanged with the alleged victim's mother were made public.

Police confirmed that a 44-year-old man from northern Tasmania has been charged with three counts of rape alleged to have occurred in April last year. The man is believed to be former Bracknell Football Club coach Josh Adams. He is scheduled to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court early next year.

Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA) president Peter Gutwein said the association had recently been informed that a coach had been charged with a serious criminal offence. He said the NTFA would not provide further comment as the matter was now before the courts.

News of the charges was first published by an independent media outlet, which detailed private messages exchanged between Bracknell president Nicole Jones and the mother of Adams's alleged victim.

Ms Jones announced via social media that she would be "standing down as president and all official club duties with immediate effect." In her statement, she said: "I acknowledge that what I said [in the messages] was disrespectful, inappropriate and wrong, and I unreservedly apologise for these comments."

Mr Gutwein said the league was "deeply concerned" by the content of the messages. "The NTFA has referred the matter to the AFL for independent consideration and acknowledges that the President has unreservedly apologised for those comments and stood aside from all official club duties with immediate effect," he said. "The NTFA recognises that individuals who report allegations of sexual violence must be treated with dignity, compassion and respect."

Adams had not re-committed to coaching Bracknell as of last month. It is understood he has since been stood down from the role and will be replaced.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The charges and the club president's resignation highlight how community sports organisations respond to serious criminal allegations and the treatment of victims who come forward.
The case tests the NTFA and AFL protocols for handling misconduct and supporting complainants.
The outcome of the court proceedings and the AFL's independent review will affect trust in local sporting bodies.

Background

The Bracknell Football Club is part of the Northern Tasmanian Football Association, a regional league. The accused, Josh Adams, was the club's coach. The charges relate to an alleged incident in April last year. The club president's private messages to the victim's mother became public after an independent media outlet published them, leading to her resignation.

Key Perspectives

NTFA president Peter Gutwein: Said the association was deeply concerned by the private messages and has referred the matter to the AFL for independent consideration. He emphasised that individuals who report sexual violence must be treated with dignity, compassion and respect. Nicole Jones: Acknowledged her comments in the messages were disrespectful, inappropriate and wrong, and apologised unreservedly. She stood down from all club duties with immediate effect.

What to Watch

Adams's appearance in Launceston Magistrates Court early next year.
The outcome of the AFL's independent consideration of the matter.
Any further action by the NTFA or the club regarding internal policies and victim support.

Sources

Tasmanian football club coach charged with rape · ABC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe headline says a former Tasmanian football coach was charged with rape.Just In: “A former northern Tasmanian football coach has been charged with three counts of rape”
SupportedThe headline says the club president resigned over private messages.Just In: “A former northern Tasmanian football coach has been charged with three counts of rape, leading to the resignation of the football club's president.”
Partly supportedThe opening says the private messages themselves were made public.Just In: “News of charges being laid against Adams were first published by an independent media outlet. Its reporting detailed private messages exchanged between Bracknell Football Club president Nicole Jones and the mother of Adams's alleged victim”
SupportedThe man was charged with three counts of rape.Just In: “A former northern Tasmanian football coach has been charged with three counts of rape”
SupportedThe alleged offences occurred in April last year.Just In: “Police confirmed a 44-year-old man from northern Tasmania had been charged with the offences that were alleged to have occurred in April last year.”
SupportedThe man is believed to be former Bracknell coach Josh Adams.Just In: “The man is believed to be former Bracknell football coach, Josh Adams.”
SupportedAdams is scheduled to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court early next year.Just In: “He is scheduled to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court early next year.”
SupportedJones said she was “standing down as president and all official club duties with immediate effect.”Just In: “Yesterday, Ms Jones announced via social media that she would be "standing down as president and all official club duties with immediate effect".”
SupportedJones said, “I acknowledge that what I said [in the messages] was disrespectful, inappropriate and wrong, and I unreservedly apologise for these comments.”Just In: “"I acknowledge that what I said [in the messages] was disrespectful, inappropriate and wrong, and I unreservedly apologise for these comments," she said.”
SupportedGutwein said the league was “deeply concerned” by the messages.Just In: “In his statement, Mr Gutwein said the league was "deeply concerned" by the content of the private messages.”
SupportedGutwein said, “The NTFA has referred the matter to the AFL for independent consideration and acknowledges that the President has unreservedly apologised for those comments and stood aside from all official club duties with immediate effect.”Just In: “"The NTFA has referred the matter to the AFL for independent consideration and acknowledges that the President has unreservedly apologised for those comments and stood aside from all official club duties with immediate effect," he said.”
SupportedGutwein said, “The NTFA recognises that individuals who report allegations of sexual violence must be treated with dignity, compassion and respect.”Just In: “"The NTFA recognises that individuals who report allegations of sexual violence must be treated with dignity, compassion and respect."”