Delisted North Melbourne forward Geordie Payne has confirmed Tasmania as his state league home for 2026.
Payne is the sixth former AFL-listed player to sign with the Devils after Jye Menzie, Sam Siggins, Cameron Owen, Robbie Fox and Caleb Mitchell.
He was drafted from Tasmania to North Melbourne with the first pick at the 2024 Mid-Season Rookie Draft but broke through for just three AFL games at the Kangaroos despite consistently putting up impressive numbers as a pressure forward in the VFL.
“I'm definitely motivated and hungry to get back to the top level and I believe my best is still ahead of me,” Payne told Tasmania's media arm after signing.
Payne will reunite with his talent pathway coach Jeromey Webberley in 2026.
He won the Devils talent pathway best and fairest in 2023 and has shown immense growth in the past two seasons.
“Geordie returns to Tassie after learning some great lessons at North Melbourne,” The Devils' head of list management and strategy Todd Patterson said.
“Tough as nails, he can play inside mid and half-forward.
"During the second half of the VFL season he developed into a ball winning, tackling machine, which resulted in him making his [AFL] debut.”
