Tasmania Football Club: Devils merch flying out the door as team closes in on 200,000 members
There’s a little bit of Tasmania in every piece of merchandise produced for the state’s new AFL/AFLW club and its nearly 200,000 members can’t seem to get enough.
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There’s a little bit of Tasmanian spirit embedded in every item of merchandise produced for the state’s burgeoning AFL/AFLW club as local businesses chip in to help the Devils stitch up piles of scarfs and beanies for founding members.
Tas Textiles, a social enterprise of the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies), based at Glenorchy, is one such business.
It has manufactured knitwear since 1946, with a mission to empower people living with disability to experience meaningful employment.
The Tasmania Football Club has contracted Tas Textiles to produce branded beanies and scarfs, which are available for purchase by the club’s legions of founding members.
Vinnies Tasmania CEO Heather Kent said the partnership was helping Tas Textiles provide “meaningful work to our wonderful staff”.
“Money raised from the production of these beanies and scarfs ultimately supports the work we do helping others around the state,” she said.
“I know our team at Tas Textiles take great pride in their work and are very excited about the beanies and scarfs they make featuring the Tasmania Devils badge.”
Tasmania Football Club executive director Kath McCann said the “quality and craftsmanship going into these products is really special”.
“The response from our members to the merchandise has been excellent, and we are loving seeing the scarfs and beanies find their way into the hands of members all over the world,” she said.
“Purchasing merchandise from the club is not only a great way to support the club and our journey to AFL and AFLW, purchasing products made and distributed by our Tasmanian suppliers is a great way to support Tasmanian businesses.”
The club is also working with Hobart business The Sewing Room, which is making a range of Tasmanian-made hoodies, polo shirts, and short and long-sleeved shirts.
Initial merchandise sales indicate there is strong demand for Devils products, before the club has even played a game in the national competition.
Further items are set to be released in the coming weeks.
Through a partnership between AFL Tasmania and the Devils, every community Auskick participant has also been gifted a special Devils t-shirt this football season to commemorate the historic launch of Tasmania’s team.
AFL Tasmania boss Damian Gill said the establishment of the Devils was a “game-changer” for football on the island.
“A whole generation of Tasmanians can join Auskick, pull on their shirts and dream of being a Devil in the AFL and AFLW – that is so powerful for our game,” he said.
There has been a huge 13 per cent increase in the number of junior footballers taking to the field in Tassie in 2024, and a record 2800 total Auskickers (a 21 per cent increase).
According to AFL.com.au, the league’s own news website, the Devils are about to become just the sixth sporting club in the world to boast more than 200,000 members.
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Originally published as Tasmania Football Club: Devils merch flying out the door as team closes in on 200,000 members
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