Devils land former Bomber in major VFL signing as trials begin
The Devils have signed a homegrown delisted AFL player as their first VFL signing, as regional trials begin to unearth some hidden gems.
The Devils have announced home-grown delisted Bomber Jye Menzie as their first VFL signing, as they target players keen to use the program as a platform to launch onto AFL and AFLW lists.
The North Hobart and Bridgewater product was picked up by Essendon in the 2022 mid season draft after a SANFL stint with South Adelaide, but was delisted after this season.
Still just 22, the small forward’s signing shows the Devils’ intent to use the VFL program as an avenue for players keep to begin, or revive, their AFL dreams.
“Whilst unfortunate for Jye that his time at Essendon has ended, we couldn’t be happier to kick off with him as our first signing,” Devils head list manager Todd Patterson said.
“At just 22 years of age we are excited to work with him as he looks to get back to the elite level.”
Menzie said he’s looking forward to helping the club find a foothold in the VFL.
“I am a proud Tasmanian, and I cannot wait to be involved in the build of the club from the ground up,” he said.
“I have learned a lot during my career so far, and particularly during my time in the AFL. I am really eager to share my learnings and continue to grow whilst being back on home soil.”
Confirmation early this month Tasmania would play full seasons next year, not part time as had been mooted, has resulted in a “significant uptake” of interest from players.
Given the small runway the Devils plan to leave no stone unturned in their player search, with regional trials beginning in Launceston on Monday night.
After receiving interest from over 300 players, the recruiting team have filtered the list to the best prospects with around 14 put through their paces.
Participants were given a range of endurance and speed tests, while fundamental football skills were also put to the test before further trials are held in Hobart and Penguin later this week.
VFL men’s coach Jeromey Webberley said the fact most of the trial applicants were from interstate showed how powerful a magnet Tasmania’s AFL team can be.
“There was over 70 per cent applicants from the mainland, which is incredibly exciting,” he said.
“I didn’t think it would be that uptake, but I guess that’s the power of having an AFL club in your state and having VFL/W full time is giving aspirational people a chance.
“There’s a range of things you look for (at trials), someone who’s athletically gifted or an athletic profile. We’ll also put them through fundamental skill based drills.”
The Devils expect this week to be “moving week” for the playing list, with the Menzie signing expected to be the first of a few in coming weeks.
Patterson said having a full season next year had made the club an easier ‘sell’ for mainland recruiting targets.
But he said the short turnaround had heightened the sense of urgency.
“It’s not making life easy, there’s no use hiding from it,” he said.
“There was merit in both models (full or part time), but ultimately we want to be a fully fledged football club.
“It would be a bit more challenging (talking to) some of those established state league players (if it wasn’t full time).
“I’m not sure as many will come home from the SANFL as what we probably first hoped, but we’ll get a few more because of how the season is structured.”
Recruiters have made inquiries with a range of players, including players like Menzie who have recently been delisted from AFL clubs.
“It’s a difficult space because we’re asking people to relocate for a semi-professional competition, which a lot of them are already in,” Patterson said.
“It’s about the greater opportunity for them (with Devils AFL side looming) and making sure we go after the players who understand and want that.
“For the most part, I think we’ve done that well so far. We’ve already got some knock backs and we’ll get more, but we’ll end up with the people we’re meant to end up with at the end of the day, and I’m pretty confident we’ll be competitive at least.
Patterson was Melbourne’s AFLW list manager for six years, and he’s confident that background has him well placed to assemble a competitive squad under tight time constraints.
“There’s lot of different dimension on what we’re looking for in players,” he said.
“There’s experienced types who can help guide the group, you’ve got guys who’ve just come off lists who want to get back on a list, and then guys who have just been falling short of getting chances.”
Patterson said the handful of representative games Tasmania played this year will help preparations, but it also exposed the big gap local talent have to bridge to be competitive in the VFL.
“It was a challenging program, but beneficial as well,” he said.
“There was some real gaps in between the games which made it hard for the players, but to get that exposure is really valuable.
“But also (it’s good) to get a reality check that we’re a bit off the mark and we all have to roll up our sleeves and get the right team, systems and training and support around them. “There’s no use hiding from it either, that we’re going into next year knowing we have a fair bit of work to do.
“It’s difficult to physically prepare your players in a six game, well-spaced out season. I expect to see a real uplift in the physical makeup of the team, and the guys and girls playing a lot more with each other will make life easier.”
Webberley said the full season gives them the best chance of attracting a competitive squad.
“Tasmanians have left the state because they want to experience what tier two competition is like, they want that consistently and want to get involved in that whole club mentality,” he said.
“The ten games was a model we thought was still attractive, and now it’s a full season the uptake in interest has been significant.
“We’re excited by the conversations we’re having, but until they sign on the dotted line you can’t put them on the magnet board.”
For now, Patterson is hopeful the trials unearth a couple of rough diamonds.
“Every trial will throw up something a bit different and if you look under enough rocks you’ll eventually find a key,” he said.
That process includes a trip to America and the United Kingdom later this year, where the club will look to ultimately set up player pathways and academies.
Devils head of recruiting Derek Hine was at Collingwood when they signed American Mason Cox, who has played 139 AFL games and featured in the Magpies’ 2023 flag.
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