Sam Siggins wants to finish his football career playing VFL for the Devils in 2026

Southern star Sam Siggins has got one eye on playing for the Devils VFL team in 2026, but there’s a huge caveat. What he said.

Sam Siggins kicked four goals in the SFL's win over the NTFA at North Hobart Oval on Saturday. Picture Liam Boric

Lauderdale star Sam Siggins says he must wait to see if Tasmania’s hopes of having an AFL team are dead or alive before he can commit to playing with the Devils VFL team in 2026 to cap off his stellar football career.

The political squabble over the AFL team and anti-stadium candidates coming out of the woodwork for the state election on June 19 could be the killer of the AFL Devils, given the “No Stadium, No Team” warnings out of league headquarters in Melbourne.

Siggins starred in the SFL’s 75-point massacre of the NTFA in the Tasmanian Representative Series decider at North Hobart Oval on Saturday.

State football. Fletcher Hooker SFL. SFL V NTFA at North Hobart Oval. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

He was the game’s equal-highest goal kicker along with teammate Jack Dolliver, each kicking four apiece.

“Siggo” said it was the perfect stage to showcase the state’s football talent.

“It is a good preview for guys who want to further their football with the potential of the VFL team coming in over the next few years,” Siggins said.

“Not everyone gets to play in the state games.

“It’s a great opportunity for those who aren’t involved in the state games to perform well in this series, and a lot guys did do that over the two games.”

State football. Josh Arnold SFL. SFL V NTFA at North Hobart Oval. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Siggins said VFL football was on his radar.

“It certainly is, and I’m getting toward the end of my footy days so if it does come about it’s certainly something I will definitely look at,” he said.

“Representing Tasmania is something I am really proud to do.

“If we were to enter into the VFL it’s something I would love to do to be able to finish my footy.

“Obviously, it has got to get ticked off and then I will assess it as something I would look at.”

SFL women’s star Perri King, who won the best-afield medal in the south’s demolition of the NFTA, also aspires to play VFL for the Devils women.

Best afield Perry King. Picture: James Bresnehan

“It would mean the world to me, and it would mean the world to a lot of other girls as well,” she said.

SFL players Sam Siggins and Andrew Phillips celebrate a goal in the win over the NTFA at North Hobart Oval. Picture Liam Boric

In the leadup to the men’s showdown, NTFA coach Adrian Smith took a shot at SFL players Siggins, Andrew Phillips and Josh Green (rested for game one against the NWFL) for “picking and choosing” when they opted to represent their region.

Siggins fired back pre-game.

“I ran past ‘Smithy’ and had something to say to him – I couldn’t help myself,” Siggins said.

“I just said ‘we’re picking and choosing, and we’re here today’.

“It was all in a bit of fun and, yeah, it was a great day.”

Siggins, 31, Green, 32, and Phillips, who 34 next month, are veterans of the state team.

“Speaking on behalf of ‘Flip’ and ‘Greeny’, it’s such a long year and we’ve got young families and for us to have a week off was something that was important to us,” Siggins said.

“We’re not getting any younger, us three boys, so rest is what we certainly needed.

“For Andrew Phillips to perform the way he did [winning the best afield medal] after having a newborn child earlier in the week, I don’t imagine he got much sleep, I’m really proud of him.”

The southern side braced for a tough contest, and despite getting that in the opening term ran away with a big win.

“Playing against North Launceston and Launceston in previous years, we knew the NTFA was going to have a strong team,” Siggins said.

“We knew we were going to be up against it, and the first quarter showed how many quality players they have up there and how good they go about it.

“We had a good side too, so for us to get through that first quarter and turn the tables and start playing to footy we wanted to play was certainly exciting.”