Jeromey Webberley on AFL clubs selecting the state’s best talents
With the Tasmania Football Club only two years away from joining the AFL Draft for the first time, the current Devils under-18 coach is confident existing clubs won’t be scared by the go home factor.
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Tasmania’s talent drain will continue for at least the next two years as AFL clubs keep cherry-picking the state’s best players until the Devils enter the AFL Draft for the first time in 2027.
As the Devils boys prepare for their opening game of this year’s Coates League under-18 competition against Bendigo Pioneers at Craigieburn in Melbourne on Saturday, coach Jeromey Webberley said his 2025 team is one to watch.
“I’m really excited about the class of ’25,” Webberley said.
“Our bottom-age players, so the 17-year-olds, played really well in the under-16s national championships last year so we are really excited about our bottom-age quality.
“We’ve got players like Jasper Hay and Lucas Wootton, so we are equally excited about our top-age players as well.”
The Tassie boys will be under scrutiny by the existing 18 AFL clubs leading into the 2025 AFL Draft — the second-last time they will have a free shot at Tasmanian talent before the Devils take preference.
Webberley said the impending presence of the Tasmanian AFL team will not deter other clubs from recruiting Tasmanians, who might later be tempted home to wear the “Map” guernsey.
“Talent is talent, so the clubs will select players from all over Australia and back in their environment to keep them at their club,” he said.
“If we have got a player a club wants, I don’t think they will have any hesitation in taking a Tasmanian.
“As a state, we (Tasmanian players) have had to move to the mainland to compete at AFL level, and there are not too many AFL or AFLW players who come back to the state.
“They remain on the mainland, fall in love with the environment, and get used to living in another state.
“So clubs will have no hesitation taking our players.”
The shortened season of 12 games works for the Devils, some of whom travel from the all parts of the state for home games and road trips, all while navigating study or work in their formative teenage years.
“It gives us the opportunity to have a better preparation leading into the 12 games — that’s the number one advantage,” Webberley said.
“The football program runs from November through to September, so our players get extremely fatigued come the back end of the year.
“Outside of football, those are really important years for their education as well and for those who have jobs.
“So it makes it better for us to compete and be fresher throughout the year.”
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