Tasmania has announced its first ever signings for its inaugural Devils side that will enter the AFL officially at the end of 2027 and play its first game Round 1, 2028.
The 19th club released the pre-draft players that the club has signed on as part of Tasmania's provisions from the AFL on Tuesday night in Hobart.
The first player announced was West Australian Axel Walsh.
Had next year's draft pool been open, Walsh would have been the early contender for the number one draft pick.
The 202cm ruck is a mobile player that can move forward and impact the game. The 17-year-old's ruck craft was on display for East Perth during the club's senior Preliminary Final loss to Subiaco in the WAFL.
Walsh was followed by 197cm key forward Jake Miller who impressed during the season and earned All-Australian honours for his performances at the national championships.
Miller came through the Western Jets program in the Talent League.
Sandringham Dragons prospect Angus Brown was the next Devil selected. Brown is a small forward-winger likened to GWS' Darcy Jones and tests elite for speed and endurance.
Riley Stratford, also part of the Sandringham Dragons program, was next and is a taller midfielder in the mould of Hawthorn's Will Day.
The fifth Devil announced was Eastern Ranges' Baxter Sruk who is a hard-nosed midfielder with a nous for the goals.
Sruk has had an impressive junior career to date and is a ball-winner and clean user.
Griffin Barker was the sixth to be announced by Tasmania and is regarded as a future line breaker for the Devils.
Barker played alongside Miller at the Western Jets this season and has the ability to bring the ball from inside to out and is impactful with every disposal.
Calder Cannons' Nate Jenkins was the seventh signing of the night and was a later addition to the Devils' considerations this year. He is a mobile key forward who kicked the most goals among bottom-age key forwards in the Talent League this season.
The Devils made one final signing for the night with Tasmanian Hugh McCallum joining as a homegrown talent.
McCallum is an aggressive winger who likes to use his speed and take the game on.
Tasmania coach Ken Hinkley said Tuesday was a historic night for the Devils as a football club.
“Tonight is a very special evening, and it's a proud moment to welcome our first group of Tasmania Devils players to our state,” said Hinkley.
“I am excited to be working with such a talented group of young footballers, all of who have tremendous skill sets and AFL attributes already.
“It will be great to share this moment with their families.
"The build of our list is a significant focus for the club and tonight is another great step forward as we move toward 2028.”
Each player will get a four-year deal, including next year on top of the standard three-year deals for top-20 picks in the draft.
Tasmania is able to pre-sign up to 12 draftees across a two-year period, with a maximum of eight taken in one year.
Most recent AFL expansion side GWS used the pre-draft signing provision to pick up the likes of future All-Australians Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar.
Hinkley can now start working on building connection and relationships with the group of seven who will go down in Tasmanian football history.
