The Tasmania Devils said a host of their AFL pre-listed draftees will feature in the club's VFL team in 2027.
The Devils are preparing to build out their inaugural list and will sign up to eight 17-year-olds onto the Devils' roster for next year ahead of their AFL introduction in 2028.
List boss Todd Patterson gave a run-down of the club's plans for who they will sign, and what Tasmania fans can expect in 2027.
“There will be some tall guys, there'll be some small guys, there'll be some quick guys, there'll be some not-so-quick guys. So we can actually build their program out,” he said.
“There might be periods of time where they actually don't play, but they do a significant athletic development block.
“I'd be surprised if they all don't play some VFL at some point in time. Some might just play the whole season; you'll definitely see them at North Hobart or UTAS Stadium.
“Hopefully those crowds just get bigger and bigger; we want to win the VFL premiership next year.
“Whilst development and recruitment will underpin the foundations of our VFL program, we want to win it.”
The Devils will attempt to right multiple wrongs expansion clubs Gold Coast and GWS faced during their starts in the AFL.
Patterson said Tasmania has autonomy over the upcoming drafts, and has a team that differs from the Suns and Giants', giving the Devils that competitive edge.
"This is us. These are the first players that will be in our premiership team," he said.
"We've got to get it right. It's a once-in-a-lifetime free access. We are the draft. We have complete control over it. We need to make sure we nail that.
"That's why we're lucky we've got experience with Decker, Mitch Cashion, and Scott Clayton. All of our part-time staff around the country. We've got the right people in the right places to make these decisions, and we're confident they're in a good spot.
"Time will tell if they're the right decisions. But as we stand here right now, we're really confident."
The Devils welcomed a host of AFL draft prospects down to the Apple Isle in a bid to showcase the state and everything that it has to offer, which is trying to get their relationship on the "right foot".
"It's just a critical part of this process," Patterson said.
"As you may have seen, some players have opted out, and those players obviously have commitments from other clubs. Players have a choice, so it was important for us to start the relationship on the right foot.
"While there's a big part of this about recruitment, it's also about retention and our relationship with these players and their families. We didn't want to just read their name out, then they come to Hobart for the first time.
"We wanted to bring them down and show them how beautiful Hobart is, how great the people are, what it's got to offer, and really immerse them in that so they can walk away really confident in their decision-making, and when they get here for the signing, they're that extra little bit excited and already becoming part of the community.
"We did a wide range of things. There was a bit of football development. Personal development. Planning. I jumped behind the wheel of a bus and made a few people a bit nervous, but showed them around Hobart and what it's got to offer, and some of the areas that will be key in their life. Just a quick one-day tour."
