Devils name is early leader

FORMER Tasmanian VFL coach Lance Spaulding says stop the search for a brand name to encompass all of the state’s elite football teams because you can’t beat the Devils.

The Name Our Footy Team search started yesterday with more than 100 names coming in the first few hours.

Spaulding had more than 10 years with the Devils and this year coached the Tassie Mariners undefeated through the AFL National Under-18 second division championship and was named All-Australian assistant coach.

“If we are looking for a new brand, the Devils is as good as you can get,” he said. “It has got a fantastic following already and the community would embrace it pretty quickly.

“There’s nothing wrong with it having a bit of history about it, and it was positive history as well.”

Former Devils VFL Brett Geappen agrees.

“It’s a good process they’re going through because it needs to have the whole state behind it. From my point of view, I would love to see the Devils name as the brand.

“A great part of my career was played with the Devils and star it was a team talked about in a positive way throughout the state and we had good support, so it would be a good thing.”

However, Geappen’s former Devils teammate, ace bigman Trent Bartlett, believes it needs a fresh take.

“I love the Devils, and the Mariners brand is also great,” Bartlett said.

“But you can see what’s happened with the Huskies in basketball and the excitement that has been generated by that. There is a real opportunity to see what someone can come up with for Tassie football.

“If it ends up being the Devils or Mariners, they are still strong brands, but I’d really like to see another name or two thrown into the mix.”

AFL Tasmania CEO Trisha Squires said Name Our Footy Team started with a bang.

“There has already been a lot of interest in naming team Tasmania,” she said.

“Some of them have been creative, some I never would have thought of, and we are hearing a lot about the Devils — that is the strong frontrunner at the moment.

“I want to see a name that everyone is passionate about.”

In two weeks a selection panel will make a shortlist for people to vote on a winner.