Opinion: Why we need a decision on Devils’ VFL launch
It’s nearly footy finals time but uncertainty still surrounds the planned launch of a Devils’ VFL team in 2026. JON TUXWORTH explains why we need clarity soon.
Sometimes the silent treatment is worse than the alternative.
The more time passes without a definitive indication on whether Tasmania’s planned entry into the VFL/W next year will happen, the itchier the feet of locally-based aspiring players will get.
If scuttlebutt around the football community is on the money, and it usually is, if the team does begin next season it will very likely be a ‘soft entry’, with perhaps eight to 12 games on the schedule.
But will that be enough to entice gun Tasmanians home from mainland leagues? Further, will it even prevent those currently at home from heading north across the Bass Strait?
It’s an interesting debate, where a passionate argument could be launched from both sides on whether this strategy will get the job done.
On one hand if the only option in the teams’ infancy is to play a reduced schedule to get the foot in the door, it probably forces Tasmania’s hand.
On the other, some would find it difficult to believe the state’s leading exports would think a reduced schedule is a big enough incentive to uproot themselves from their current clubs.
Then there’s the big elephant in the room of how much they will be compensated and whether that can compete with not only SANFL and VFL, but the stronger regional competitions.
Asked on SEN this week whether the Tasmanian VFL team would definitely play next year, AFL Tasmania boss Damian Gill said “I’m very hopeful.”
Crucially, Gill did indicate those games would be “actually in competition”, not practice games as some feared.
Practice games would effectively make the entire exercise pretty pointless. No VFL coach would send close to a full strength team down for effectively a practice game, especially players with niggling injuries who could use a week off.
In one Tasmania Devils Academy clash this year, Sandringham sent a severely depleted outfit with guernsey numbers into the 70s, which Tassie won by 38 points.
For the leading players in the best teams like North Launceston, what the landscape looks like next season needs to be confirmed urgently, or they will likely have little choice but to leave.
Beating the likes of Deloraine and Scottsdale by 200-plus points in the controversial new NTFA Premier League isn’t providing the development or challenge required, especially for those with dreams of being drafted into the AFL.
Many have stuck around for family and work reasons, but also because of love and loyalty to their clubs.
However plenty have also committed to the current ‘gap year’ after the TSL was absolved after last season, under the belief it would land them in pole position to press for Tassie’s inaugural VFL squad.
Clearly the tumultuous political landscape currently unfolding in Tasmania, which directly affects the Devils AFL/W teams, has made locking in a VFL team far more difficult than initially expected.
AFL Tasmania deserves credit for increasing the amount of representative football for the state’s best players this season, with men and women playing five games apiece.
They also train alongside each other as much as club and travel commitments allow in regional talent academies.
But in an interview with this masthead in July Adam Sanders, father of Western Bulldogs star Ryley, a former Launceston premiership coach and head coach of Tassie’s under-18 program, said it was “absolutely paramount” the VFL team launched next year.
“I reckon some people will go to Hobart to play. In the early eighties some really good players from here (Launceston) went to Hobart because it became a better comp, and that’s why the State League came in,” he said.
“Or they’ll go to the mainland, where my son Ollie is. There’s like 14 Tassie boys at Norwood, and 30 players from Tassie playing SANFL footy.
“There’s probably another ten playing VFL and a heap in Queensland. There could be up to 50 kids that could potentially be good players in Tassie playing on the mainland.
“It’s always happened, but probably not to that extent.”
He also highlighted financial incentives for players must be strong enough, given they may have to take a day off work for travel commitments.
“What I’m hearing is they’ll probably play ten games next year. I think they’re worried about being blown away and it’s not too bad, but what they have to do is the games have to be for points,” Sanders said.
“You can’t keep having friendlies, Sandringham was just picking blokes out of local footy.
“We won’t make finals with that many games, but at least the teams coming down to play Tassie have got four points on offer, so they’ll take it seriously.”
Sanders added there would be positives for a reduced VFL program, like players being able to play enough local league games to qualify for finals and improve the quality.
“Players could go back into local comps for six or seven games and qualify for finals. It strengthens up that footy during the finals, which isn’t the worst thing,” he said.
Gill was confident the Devils had the incentives to make it a “very compelling proposition” for Tasmanians to return home to play VFL, and hopefully that’s right.
The proof will be in the pudding.
“There’s got to be some incentives to draw key players in, but also draw some key players back,” Sanders said.
“(Possibly) a rookie list spot. There’s maybe four or five spots they could offer to come back and play for a couple of years before the AFL comes in.
“You don’t need your team full of Tasmanians but it’s a bit like Gold Coast, they’ve got Gold Coast kids playing in the team and it helps that young people can see they can play for Tasmania.”
