Vastly experienced, but new to coaching for new Devils mentor Cameron Joyce

The new Tasmania Devils coach has more than two decades experience in the AFL system but this will be the first time in charge in his own right.

North Melbourne Interim coach Rhyce Shaw, left, with footy manager Cameron Joyce. Picture: MICHAEL KLEIN

AFL Tasmania has taken a punt on former North Melbourne football general manager Cameron Joyce as the new under-18s Devils manager.

Joyce has been given a two-year contract, replacing former coach Adrian Fletcher.

Joyce arrives with a wealth of experience having spent 21 years in the AFL system, including the past 11 at the Roos where he rose to the role of footy boss, but the punt comes as he has never coached before in his own right.

The 39-year-old son of Hawthorn premiership coach Alan Joyce has been a development coach at the Oakleigh Chargers and with the Roos’ former VFL feeder club North Ballarat.

But Joyce, a qualified level 3 coach, said his resume – that has seen him rise from recruiter, to list manager, football operations manager and then as football general manager – would hold him in good stead.

“There is definitely transferable skills from what I’ve been doing in man management and relationship and also just knowledge of football in general,” Joyce told the Mercury.

“I will be looking to tap into all of that.

“Being a former list manager and football general manager, I’ve gone to a lot of homes talking to potential draftees, writing reports on players, going to the combine, going to draft night, seeing the players we pick all the way through to induction process into the AFL system and then also seeing the ones that succeed and the ones that don’t.

“I think I’ve got a really good view of those who have been successful and those that don’t and just being able to pass on some of that knowledge to the players to what they can expect and especially those who want to strive to make the next level, I think I can assist in that.”

Cameron Joyce with former North Melbourne senior coach Brad Scott. Picture: MICHAEL KLEIN

AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires said Joyce was an exciting appointment for the state’s NAB League team.

“He is fresh out of the AFL system and has really valuable industry knowledge and contacts but also has NAB League experience,” Squires said.

“Cameron has served in coaching and non-coaching roles and brings a well-rounded outlook on the game and a wide breadth of skills to the role.”

Fletcher departed the role after just one year to return to Brisbane to rejoin his family, but there were queries raised by players’ parents about his overly negative coaching and “old-school” style.

Joyce said he had great belief in the state’s talent pathway and was getting up to speed on grassroots football.

He said his main aim was improving every player on the Devils list.

“Then we try to bring it together as a team especially on match day and be as successful as we can,” Joyce said.

“Development comes first and if we get that right then the winning piece will be a little bit easier.”

Unlike Fletcher, Joyce and his family will relocate to Hobart where he will start work on November 4.

It is understood former Devils VFL coach and Mariners coach Mathew Armstrong, AFL Tasmania’s northern talent manager Darren Trevena, Clarence playing-coach Jeromey Webberley and Wayne Cripps, brother of Port Adelaide list manager and former Saints and Devils VFL player Jason Cripps, also applied for the role.