Tasmania Devils inspire next generation to play footy

A Tasmanian AFL team is already leaving its mark on participation — including Lauderdale youngster Florence Howard, 4, who wants to follow in her older brother George’s footsteps.

Siblings Florence Howard 4 and George Howard 5 who Auskickers at Lauderdale Football Club. The growth of Auskick participation in Tasmania has increased dramatically in the past year. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The Tasmania Devils have turbo-charged participation in footy across the state in the 10 months since their official launch in March.

AFL Tasmania says the AFL Devils have bitten deep into the market to capture the hearts of kids, with a 27 per cent boost in boys and girls flocking to their local football clubs.

The Devils inspired the most new players in Tasmania’s south, with an incredible increase of 104 per cent in Auskick participants.

AFL Tasmania CEO Damian Gill said the North-West the North also saw tremendous growth across their participation programs.

The Head of AFL Tasmania, Damian Gill. Picture: Linda Higginson

There are now 21,002 registered participants across all of AFL Tasmania’s programs in 2024.

“We are seeing the excitement for footy in Tasmania soar to new heights with more girls and boys than ever joining their local Auskick,” Gill said.

“A 27 per cent rise in participation and a whopping 38 per cent increase in Auskick is a demonstration of the eagerness for footy off the back of the launch of our club.”

The AFL’s new Superkick has also been a hit.

It is a modified version of AFL that focuses on skill development for 7-12-year-olds, which is tackle-free, highly-social, shorter seasons and no training required.

While the North-West led the way nationally when it came to AFL’s newest program Superkick, boosting overall participation by 40 per cent, Tasmania’s smallest region also recorded an incredible four per cent of Australia’s total Superkickers.

“It has been a historic year in 2024 for the game in Tasmania on many fronts and I think it will be remembered for the start of the wave of momentum in footy participation,” Gill said.

AFL Tasmania delivered over 170 sessions in local schools as well as initiatives aimed at increasing female engagement in local clubs.

“Off the back of over 170 sessions in schools across the state we’ve seen a 48 per cent growth in community Auskick participation in Southern Tasmania and this is a significant boost for STJFL clubs,” said AFL Tasmania’s participation and programs manager Aaron Roberts.

“It offers a larger pool of young players to support the long-term sustainability of these clubs.

“Looking ahead to 2025, the connection with the Tasmania Football Club is set to strengthen further, building on the excitement of a Tasmanian team becoming a reality.”

Siblings Florence Howard 4 and George Howard 5 who Auskickers at Lauderdale Football Club. The growth of Auskick participation in Tasmania has increased dramatically in the past year. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

For Lauderdale youngster Florence Howard, 4, it was watching her older brother George, 5, play footy that made her want to get involved in Auskick.

“We’ve all grown up in quite a football-orientated family, and it’s something George wanted to do and after that, Florence jumped straight in,” the children’s father Jacob said.

“She’s pumped and ready to go for next year already.”

The brother and sister are two of the more than 100 kids that gather at Lauderdale Football Club every Friday night for training.

Mr Howard said it was “really well-organised and great for the kids.”

“This is George’s second year of Auskick and Florence’s first, and they love coming along with their friends from school,” he said.

“Afterwards they all go in for a sausage and a juice and they have an absolute ball.

“It’s a really good place for both of them to grow with the community which is really special.”