‘I like the Devils’, says Premier Jeremy Rockcliff as hunt for Tasmania’s AFL team name begins

Devils, Penguins, Quolls and Woodchoppers - we reveal some of the names suggested for Tasmania’s AFL team

THE Devils has taken a strong lead in the race to be the name of Tasmania’s team when it enters the AFL in 2028 but Premier Jeremy Rockliff said a stoush with Warner Bros. is the “least of my problems right now”.

Despite the Tasmanian Devil being trademarked by American movie giant, Premier Jeremy Rockcliff backed Devils as the name of the newborn team.

Ultimately, it will go to the public to have their say, but the Premier favours Tasmania’s unique furry friend, the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world with the strongest bite per unit body mass of any predatory land mammal.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - MAY 03: The Tasmania Devils logo is seen during the AFL Tasmanian Team Announcement at North Hobart Oval on May 03, 2023 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“It’s our Devil – it will always be the Tasmanian Devil,” Mr Rockliff said.

“I am going to engage our Tasmanian people, all the believers out there who have fought hard for this team, they deserve to have a say in terms of our Tassie team name.

“I like the Devils.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - MAY 03: Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff speaks to the media during an AFL media opportunity to announce the commitment to establishing a 19th AFL team, in Tasmania, at North Hobart Oval on May 03, 2023 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“The Warner Bros obstacle is the least of my problems at the moment.

“Let’s keep the momentum. Tassie devils sounds good to me but let the people have their say.”

It is not the first time Tasmanian football has put it to the public to name our state team.

In 2018, the Name Our Footy Team search was launched to search for a brand name to encompass all of the state’s future elite football teams _ including an AFL team.

L-R Trisha Squires, Brett Geappen, Trent Bartlett and Lance Spaulding at Blundstone Arena. Tasmanian football, Name Our Team competition. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Devils was the run-away winner. It had been the name for Tasmania’s VFL team from 2001 to 2008, and was subsequently adopted for the Devils boys and girls teams from 2019.

Sport Football VFL Tasmanian Devils versus Springvale Scorpions at North Hobart Oval Cameron Blight Tasmania races away from Springvale player Jason Blake

A poll by the Mercury in 2018 showed strong support for Devils. From a total of 475 suggestions, 142 readers went for the Tassie Devils or Tasmanian Devils.

Variations on South/Southern, Tigers/Thylacines and the Mariners also got votes, alongside references to the state’s history in colonials/convicts/bushrangers, Van Diemens, and animals such as jack jumpers, dragons/sea Dragons, wombats, snakes/tiger snakes and even geese.

Footy fans have been quick to suggest names for the team this time.

The Mariners, the original name of Tasmania’s under-18 representative team in Victoria’s underage football factory for future AFL players, has made a comeback.

Other suggestions include penguins, pademelons, oysters, quolls and woodchoppers.