Win buoys Tasmanian VFL submission as deadline looms

The Vic Metro team was no VFL competition, but the Devils’ big win showed they are on the right track tp puch for a VFL return in 2021.

Tasmania’s Aiden Grace marks during the game against Vic Metro at UTAS Stadium. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TASMANIA’S emphatic win over Vic Metro in the under-25s representative game will go some way to helping the state’s submission for a VFL licence.

While Sunday’s opponents, who the Devils beat by six goals, were a long way short of a VFL opposition that could contain as many as 14 AFL-listed players, one of the criteria for the state was to show a side would be competitive, AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires said.

GALLERIES:

TASMANIA DEVILS UNDER-25S

NAB NATIONAL AFL CAHMPIONSHIPS

UNDER-16 BOYS STJFL V NTJFA

UNDER-16 GIRLS STJFL V NTJFA

This playing group, plus the addition of current under-18 players with two years full-time NAB League experience and interstate recruits, will hopefully have the Devils ready to fire in 2021 after being given a provisional VFL licence.

“There are four pillars in regards to our application to the VFL and one is our on-field competitiveness,” Squires said.

“[AFL Tasmania football manager] Craig Notman and [TSL general manager] Carl Saunder are leading the piece around list recruitment strategy and we have to submit our list recruitment strategy as part of the submission.”

With a playing salary cap of $380,000 for standalone teams, AFL Tasmania is looking at a budget between $1 million and $1.5 million for the Devils financed by the AFL, sponsorship, membership and game-day activation.

Devils under-25s captain Josh McGuinness said the prospect of this group going on to play in the VFL was raised.

“It was mentioned before the game that this would probably be the core group of the side if we were to bring in a VFL side in a couple of years’ time,” McGuinness said.

“[Coach] Jamie Hayward spoke about it that this was the best opportunity for everyone to put their best foot forward and put their case forward for the VFL side both as a state and individually as well.”

Alexander Lee attempts to mark during the game against Vic Metro. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

McGuinness, a former Brisbane-listed AFL player, said he would jump at the chance to represent Tasmania in the VFL.

“If a VFL side did come in, obviously I would try my hardest to play VFL and I would play for the Devils as long as I could,” he said.

“It is something that really excites the group that played yesterday but there are also a few [older] boys who didn’t play yesterday who would want to play for the Devils and we would probably get a few come back from the mainland as well if we did have a VFL side.”

AFL Tasmania’s submission is due in September but Squires has already presented the first draft to the AFL.

“I shared the first draft but what we haven’t done a lot of work around is the list strategy and list recruitment,” she said.

“The other pillars we have done a lot of work around, the governance and administration, the financial sustainability and our community connection are well advanced.

“It is now really the talent team led by Craig Notman that will work through the list management.

“We need to get through this licence submission but I’m really confident in my team we can tick all these boxes and submit a really compelling submission.”