Uncontracted players from the top of the 2024 super draft, such as Richmond’s Sam Lalor, will be targets of the Tasmania Devils as they look to build a team that can compete from their first game in 2028.
Lalor, North Melbourne’s Finn O’Sullivan and Carlton’s Jagga Smith were the top three picks in that draft, which is already shaping up as the best draft of the past 10 years.
The top 20 picks in the national draft now have standard contracts with incentives for their first three seasons, meaning those who have not already extended their contracts come out of contract at the end of 2027.
Sam Lalor is one of a collection of top 20 picks who will be of interest to the Devils. Credit: Getty Images
The Devils can recruit one uncontracted player per club under the list establishment rules announced in October.
The club’s list manager, Todd Patterson, told this masthead on Tuesday it was an “interesting position for that draft class to be [in]” as they come out of contract the year before the new club launches.
“That will be quite interesting to see how other clubs manage that, and we have got to fit into the market to potentially get one or two of them through the door,” Patterson said.
It’s unusual for clubs to lose players at the end of their draft contract, and players such as Fremantle’s Rising Star winner Murphy Reid have already extended their deals beyond 2027. However, the Devils will have a sign-on bonus of $5 million to spend over two years, which will be used to lure top talent to the club.
Tom Scully not long after joining GWS.Credit: Paul Rovere
The Giants managed to recruit Adelaide’s No.10 pick Phil Davis from the 2008 national draft and Melbourne’s No.1 pick Tom Scully from the 2009 national draft to be part of their club from day one.
Patterson said the club was going through the process of signing off on the list strategy and had already met players from across the competition to determine their needs.
They are keeping all options open, with the question likely to be asked of top-tier players such as Collingwood’s Nick Daicos (contracted until 2029) and Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell (2027).
Other players out of contract at the end of 2027 include E.J. Whitten medallist Lachie Ash, Ollie Henry, Beau McCreery, Tom McCartin and Logan Morris.
AFL chief Andrew Dillon at the launch of the Tasmania Devils in March 2024.Credit: AFL Photos
Patterson made a key presentation to 30 of the game’s top player managers as the Devils showcased their plans for the new club and stadium.
They highlighted the suburbs players potentially could live in near the new training and administration centre to be built in Kingborough, less than 15 minutes from the centre of Hobart, and sold the lifestyle. The club is hopeful they could reach agreement with AFL players at the end of this season to join the club in 2028.
Patterson is also bullish about the pool of 17-year-olds the club is inviting to pre-list and train next year, as well as the available mechanisms the Devils have to gather enough talent on their list to be competitive.
Devils CEO Brendon Gale said the club would like to have settled on a senior coach by the end of this season after appointing a football manager, although that coach would not necessarily have to begin full-time in the job until early 2027.
Managers believe it will be important to some players considering a move to Tasmania to know who their senior coach will be.
Gale said there was no compulsion to recruit players from Tasmania, although he admitted if there were players from the Apple Isle who wanted to join the club, were a good fit and came at the right price, they would come under strong consideration.
“We want good players, but you want players who want to be here. You want players who are going to embrace us,” Gale said.
Peter Ryan travelled to Tasmania with the support of the Tasmania Devils.
Most Viewed in Sport
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
