Lachy Hay could hardly have imagined an AFL career 12 months ago, having just helped Riddells Creek claim a local-football premiership.
But after an extraordinary rise into Tasmania's VFL program, the 20-year-old is beginning to attract attention from AFL clubs, with a pathway to the top level now firmly within reach, potentially via the Devils' 'golden ticket'.
Hay attracted interest from several AFL clubs throughout the season, but ultimately committed to another year with Tasmania, backing the Devils' development pathway to help turn his AFL ambitions into reality.
"I had positive conversations with Tassie and other AFL clubs," Hay told Zero Hanger.
"So my goal and aspirations are to play AFL footy, whether that's at Tassie, great, but other clubs as well. So I'm just trying to do everything I can to keep developing my footy and try and make that AFL dream come true."
Hay's pathway into the Devils program was anything but conventional.
After helping the Riddell Bombers claim a premiership in 2025, the forward was approached by Tasmania list management and strategy boss Todd Patterson, who offered him an opportunity to trial for the club's inaugural VFL campaign.
"Just come off playing for Riddles Creek and won a flag, and then a few weeks after that, Todd (Patterson) gave me a call and introduced himself and the idea and possibility of moving over to Tassie, and then when he actually did tell me and reach out to me, I thought it was a bit of a prank call," Hay said.
"I didn't really give him anything and thought it was a bit too good to be true. So I wasn't sure what to think, but then took a meeting with him and then pretty much jumped straight on the boat with my car and jumped over and tried to go all in with footy and that's how I ended up there."
Hay was one of approximately 80 hopefuls competing for a place on Tasmania's inaugural VFL list, making his eventual selection all the more impressive.
"It was pretty exciting. I didn't really know what to expect. I went over there having not met or spoken to anyone involved at the club other than Todd," he explained.
"And yeah, I got there. I got there day one of preseason. I think everyone was looking at me like, 'Who's this little kid that's rolled in,' and now, from day one, they've been awesome, very welcoming, and I felt like I haven't really looked back since that first day.
"I was able to impress enough throughout the year, throughout the preseason, and earn selection in Round 1, and then be able to play in every game, which has been awesome."
Hay's pace, work rate and ability to hit the scoreboard have become defining features of his game, with the youngster already identifying a couple of established AFL players he hopes to emulate.
He sees similarities between his playing style and that of Brisbane's Zac Bailey and Geelong's Shaun Mannagh.
"That's someone that I look up to and look at as if I can sort of be that type of player," Hay said.
"I think I'm pretty hardworking, speedy, half forward winger that can use the ball, get really high up the ground, get involved in defence, and then connect the back line to the forward line.
"Push forward and hit the scoreboard as well with my foot skills, and also my work rate and speed. So that's the main ones."
While rival AFL interest presented an opportunity to explore other pathways, Hay believes Tasmania offers an environment capable of accelerating his development.
The Devils' football department is already stacked with experienced AFL personnel, with the likes of Nigel Lappin, Matthew Knights and incoming senior coach Ken Hinkley providing invaluable experience.
Knights is a former Essendon coach and has played a pivotal part in developing the next wave of Tasmanians.
"I feel like the way we're being run at the moment is as if we are an AFL team," Hay said.
"So having those standards and those people around to help has been amazing for myself and everyone else's development; rubbing shoulders with Nigel Lappin, Matty Knights, Ken Hinkley hopefully being involved as well, I'll be trying to squeeze every bit of experience and sort of tips I can get off them as well to get better.
"I think me and Matthew Knight have built a really, really good and strong relationship on and off the field.
"He's been awesome with me, and also being from a country town as well, we've been able to build that connection off the back of that, and on game days he's played a massive role with me and helped guide me in our training and during games.
"I think just genuine footy footy craft. I think just little pointers here and there that I wouldn't have even really thought of. He's been able to just build me up and give me confidence when I need it, and also tell me where I can improve and make sure I'm still keeping my head level and I'm just still trying to get better in everything I do.
"He's had a very long career in footy, and he knows better than anyone that if you just work hard and continue to get better, it'll pay off down the track."
For a player who was running around in local football just 12 months ago, the opportunity to learn from some of the game's most experienced figures is one Hay isn't taking for granted.
With another season in Tasmania ahead of him, the youngster will be hoping that continued development can bring him one step closer to realising his AFL dream.
