The sons of Tasmanian AFL greats could snub their fathers’ former clubs to play for the new Devils team under special recruitment rules.

An AFL rule change will open the door for the competition’s newest team to reap the rewards. Find out which AFL legends’ kids could be up for the taking for the Devils.

Nick Riewoldt and his sons, James, Will and Teddy. Picture: David Caird

It’s too late for AFL stars like Nick Riewoldt, Russell Robertson, Jeremy Howe and Jack Riewoldt to don the Map and play for Tasmania in the AFL – but it’s not too late for their kids.

Under the AFL’s list concessions and draft rules for its 19th club, the children of Tasmanian-born players, who played 100 AFL games, are eligible to play for the Devils when the time comes.

That father-son rule has Devils recruiters salivating at the prospect of Nick Riewoldt’s sons James, 11, Will, 9, Teddy, 6, possibly overlooking their dad’s legacy at St Kilda, where he played 336 games, kicked 718 goals and was club champion six times in 11 years, to be a Devil.

Nick Riewoldt’s son James, now 10, showing his talents here as a four-year-old potential future star. Picture: Jay Town

The same for Jack Riewoldt’s girls Poppy, 6, Hazel, 4, qualify under the father-daughter rule, while his son Tommy, 2, like his cousins, also falls under the father-son rule.

The Riewoldt children have also not escaped the gaze of Tasmania Football Club’s list boss Todd Patterson.

“Nick’s got some boys,” Patterson said.

“There’s a number of them [Tassie players with kids],” – I wouldn’t want to put any pressure on anyone around that.

“I have spoken to Nick about his boys and it’s a really interesting environment for father/sons and father/daughters that there’s this expectation now.

“We just want to be there to support those fathers and the kids and add to their development where we can and see where it all goes to.”

First cab off the father-son rank could be Tex Robertson, the 15-year-old son of former Melbourne star Russell Robertson, 46, originally from Penguin – the same small North-West Coast town that produced Tasmania Football Club chairman Grant O’Brien.

Tex is already on the radar for Patterson and Devils chief recruiter Derek Hine.

Russell "Robbo" Robertson, his son Tex. Picture : Nicki Connolly

“I know my ex-Melbourne counterparts are hoping I stay away from Russell Robertson’s young fella, but we’ll see,” Patterson said.

“We might have to start competing a bit harder with them now.”

Melbourne’s new president, Tasmanian Brad Green, is also in the future father-son spotlight for his kids Wilbur, 13, Ollie, 11, Tommy, 2.

There could be split allegiances for the 254-game, 350-goal former Dee, who is now in charge of the club.

Devils CEO Brendon Gale might even get a tap on the shoulder over his son Donny, 17, and Brendon’s brother and former Tigers teammate Michael, who has two sons Wilf, 16, Smith, 12.

Adrian Fletcher, who hailed from Glenorchy and went on to play a 231-game AFL career at Geelong, St Kilda, Fremantle and Bisbane, has already seen his son Jaspa, 21, play in two premeirships for the Brisbane Lions, while his daughter Indi, 19, injured her shoulder playing footy early on and is now an athlete.

Jaspa Fletcher and his dad Adrian. Pic:Michael Klein

In terms of the recruiting long game, Collingwood premiership defender Jeremy Howe has a four-year-old son Zander, and another son Saxon, who joined the family in March.

Four-times premiership Hawk Grant Birchall has a son Billy, 4, premiership Pie Brody Mihocek has Arthur, 1, and in the really long game, 141-game Demon defender Colin Garland, who last month won his first ever premiership with Clarence, is expecting a son next month.

TASMANIA DEVILS FATHER/SON/DAUGHTER DRAFT POSSIBILITIES

Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda 336 games) - James, 11, Will, 9, Teddy, 6

Jack Riewoldt (Richmond 347 games) Poppy, 6, Hazel, 4, Tommy, 2

Russell Robertson (Melbourne 228 games) Tex, 15

Jeremy Howe (Melbourne/Collingwood 271 games) - Zander, 4, Saxon Cruz (born March 2025)

Brody Mihocek (Collingwood 159 games) - Arthur, 1

Brendon Gale (Richmond 244 games) Donny, 18

Adrian Fletcher (Cats/Saints/Brisbane/Dockers 231 games) - Jaspa, 21, Indi, 19

Tom Bellchambers (Essendon 136 games) – Billy (almost 1)

Brad Green (Melbourne 254 games) –– Wilbur, 13, Ollie, 11, Tommy, 2

Brodie Holland (Dockers/Collingwood 155 games) – Collingwood - Stevie, 15, identical twins Kip and Bowie, 14

Brady Rawlings (North Melbourne 245 games) – North Melbourne – Georgia, 17,

Jade Rawlings (Hawks/Bulldogs/Kangas 148) – Gabriella, 20, Andie (daughter) 18, Macy, 7, Ed, 6

Grant Birchall (Hawthorn 285 games) – Hawthorn Billy, 4,

Liam Jones (Bulldogs/Carlton 205 games) – Darcy (daughter) 2, Maddox, 1

Ben Brown (Kangaroos/Melbourne 175 games) – Aila, 7, Esme (4)

Michael Gale (Fitzroy/Richmond 196 games) – Wilf, 16, Smith, 12

Matthew Richardson (Richmond 282 games) – Zoey, 8, Riley Alice, 5, Ella Mae, 3

Simon Wiggins (Carlton 116 games) - Layla, 16, Alex, 12

Levi Casboult (Carlton/Gold Coast 198 games) - Arlo, 8, Lonnie, 10

Jimmy Webster (St Kilda 180 games) – sons Flynn, 3, and Angus, 1

Colin Garland (Melbourne 141 games) – a son due in six weeks