Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins is unsurprised by Tasmania's pursuit of Cats senior staff member Andrew Mackie.
News broke on Monday that the Devils were hunting Mackie to join the 19th AFL side in a general manager capacity.
Speaking in a press conference later on Monday, Atkins said Geelong's continued success under Mackie, who runs the football department and list management strategy, would make any club want to have the former premiership player on their books.
“It's smart of (the Devils) because he's amazing at what he does for us and what he has done for the last couple of years, so it's no surprises there,” Atkins said.
“I think when you're at a good organisation like the Cats, people would be smart to try and take players from us, take staff from us.
“Hopefully we keep him, but it'd be the same as Nigel (Lappin).
“I'm just stoked for Nigel, the opportunity he's getting, and the recognition for what a great person he is.”
Tasmania is eager to build the best possible organisation from the CEO Brendan Gale down and has been attracting opposition off-field talent for the past 12 months.
Recently, the Devils snared Lappin from Geelong in early August after he spent 18 years as a development coach for the Cats among other roles.
Lappin is often credited with Geelong's ability to find a diamond in the rough via late draft picks.
Inaugural Tasmania coach Ken Hinkley has his own links to the Cattery, having played 121 games for the club before being part of the coaching staff that broke the drought and brought flags to Geelong in 2007 and 2009.
Mackie played for Geelong from 2004-17, winning three premierships and one All-Australian blazer across 280 games.
