Tasmania Devils eyeing 2027 number one pick, plus possible concessions

Tasmania is hoping to get its hands on the number one pick in the 2027 AFL Draft before entering the competition. But the Devils are still looking for something “a little bit sharper” after the latest negotiations.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Debutant, Sam Lalor of the Tigers celebrates his first league goal during the 2025 AFL Round 01 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Tasmania Devils have three months to convince the AFL to give them the No. 1 draft pick in 2027 after leaving their latest round of list negotiations saying the league’s offer could be “a little bit sharper”.

Devils boss Brendon Gale and three-time Brisbane Lions premiership spearhead, now Tasmanian Football Club board member, Alastair Lynch have teamed up in an effort to secure an exceptional outcome for Devils’ AFL Draft “welcome package”.

The Tasmanian Football Club started advertising for its football operations manager and list/player acquisition and strategy managers, hoping to find them by the middle of this year, putting added emphasis on the outcome draft concession talks across the same time-line.

Expansion clubs Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney each received the No. 1 draft pick, and the Devils expect the same.

It could mean the difference between gaining or missing a player like Richmond’s No. 1 pick Sam Lalor, who made a stunning debut for the Tigers in their win against Carlton last week.

Sam Lalor. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“We have been working with the AFL for some months on the concessions and rules, and we have got some draft concessions and rules that are on the table,” said Tasmania Football Club executive officer Kath McCann.

“It’s fair to say we’d like to see those a little bit sharper.

“So we are currently in discussions with the AFL with the intent of having them agreed by the end of this financial year.”

Tasmania appears set to for six picks in the first 13 in 2027 as part of a suite of list concessions the AFL has been preparing for its 19th team.

The list includes “mini-drafts”, longer access to pre-listing youngsters and 12 first-round picks over the first three years, but so far not the pick of the crop.

McCann said draft talks were “highest priority”.

“It is critically important those rules (that are under discussion) get agreed sooner rather than later, not just for our club but for the other 18 clubs in the league,” she said.

“These are a really key focus of Brendon and Alastair.

“It’s an ongoing conversation with the AFL and when I say ongoing, it’s of the highest priority for the club.”

McCann is confident the Devils’ draft negotiators can deliver a good outcome for the club and its 207,000 members.

“We will be putting a very compelling case forward to the AFL and we know what we need,” she said.

“We want to see a particular focus on talent – that is critically important for us.

“So far all of our discussions and negotiations with the AFL have been really positive.

“But we should eagerly accept the fact that this is when we start to talk with a bit more tension because this is when we are talking about competition, so not just the AFL but the other cubs as well.

“We would like it resolved by mid-this year because as we approach the next draft that becomes particularly important – we are affectively two years out from Tasmania’s first draft

“So time is of the essence.”

TOP 10 DEVILS AFL DRAFT PROPOSED CONCESSIONS

1. Six picks in the first 13 selections in the 2027 AFL Draft.

2. A $1m salary cap bonus as a sign-on incentive fund to help attract players.

3. First shot at free agency players from the 18 other clubs – limited to one from each club.

4. First selection at the start of each round of the AFL Draft in 2027 and 2028.

5. A mini draft – providing access to Australia’s best 17-year-old players.

6. First access to Tasmanian teenagers eligible for the 2026 draft. They can sign with the Devils instead of going into the draft, play for Tasmania in the VFL in 2027 ahead of the Devils’ AFL debut in 2028.

7. Tasmania being an Academy Zone with priority selections for the Devils.

8. Multiple early selections in AFL Rookie Drafts.

9. Multiple early selections in the AFL Mid-Season Drafts.

10. Access to Tasmanian father-son selections.