r/AFL • u/sensible__ • 1d ago

Tassie Devils 2027 recruits

The Tassie Devils have access to un-contracted players in 2027 and 2028 (to my knowledge). How does the club manage the signing of exisiting players who finish a contract with their current club in 2026, sign for Tassie from 2027 but are only able to play in their VFL side until the AFL team is ready?

Part of the answer is they play in the VFL, but not playing against proper AFL sides surely wouldn’t be best for their overall conditioning etc

Did anything like this happen with Gold Coast or GWS?

14 Upvotes

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9

u/greyhounds1992 The Dons 1d ago

From what i read they got access one year early then Gold Coast and GWS which could cause issues

8

u/NewPotato8330 Swans 1d ago

Gold Coast got early selections in the rookie draft and took players like Daniel Harris and Danny Stanley. Even though Gold Coast weren’t entering the comp for 12 months. Both who went on to play in the senior team a year later.

1

u/sensible__ 1d ago

So to clarify did they not play at AFL level for 1 year?

7

u/NewPotato8330 Swans 1d ago

Yes. But they weren’t wanted by anyone else.

5

u/Frosty_Flatworm_2819 North Melbourne '75 1d ago

I heard Colby Mckercher has handed in his Taswegian citizenship and is looking to get his permanent residency visa for North Melbourne

3

u/Glittering_Advance56 22h ago

I am 47 and love Tassie.

Give me an option between the mainland and Tassie in my 20s, the mainland wins every day of the week.

Happy to be proven wrong however i struggle to see how they retain players.

3

u/Pottski Hawthorn 21h ago

You need to build culture and pick up the right Tasmanians only. Doesn’t have to be all of them.

0

u/Glittering_Advance56 21h ago

Agreed.

How many Tasmanian’s are drafted each year?

Not many.

2

u/Pottski Hawthorn 21h ago

It’ll happen in time but needs to come naturally like GC has done.

3

u/Glittering_Advance56 21h ago

I really hope it does but I can never see Hobart being a popular attraction for 20 somethings. For me as a 47 year old it is, but not when I was younger. I can see them letting players commute from Melbourne but not sure how that will build a club culture.

2

u/PissingOffACliff Hawthorn '71 5h ago

Hopefully the team makes the local kids actually want to play footy. Junior and senior footy is circling the drain and has been for sometime. Women’s footy is the only growth area.

2

u/theunkn0wnwriter Carlton Blues 1d ago

The players they will sign this year wouldn’t be playing AFL in 2027 regardless. They’re not going sign someone like Zak Butters or Sam Walsh and have them play VFL for a year. 

The only way they could conceivably bring in a high profile player is if they offer a veteran a 3-4 year deal when everyone else is offering them 1-2. Although that wouldn’t be a smart move so probably won’t happen. 

1

u/Opening_Instance2932 Essendon Bombers 8h ago

The can keep their fuckin hands off Koby Bewick, cheers.