AFL announces Tasmania Devils will be new team’s name as playing kit unveiled
The AFL has announced its new team will be called the Tasmania Devils and wear a myrtle green, primrose yellow and rose red guernsey with an image of the island splashed on the front.
The long-awaited announcement in Devonport, which coincided with six live events across the state, was greeted with a spontaneous chant of “devils” among the crowd.
Former AFL player Matthew Richardson, who unveiled the club’s colours, said they were “a no-brainer” and had been worn by Tasmanian footballers for more than a century.
“We already have over 100 years of history in these colours – all the greats have worn it,” Richardson said. “Now all the young kids who want to play for this club will get to wear these colours as well.”
Tasmanian midfielder Jasmyn Thompson, who announced the club’s name, said it represented “who we are and where we are heading”.
“The nickname for our club has three elements,” Thompson said. “It represents our place, the place we’re so proud to be from, combined with one of our most distinct inhabitants that makes us proud. It is strong and unique to our place.”
The AFL’s official announcement did not address doubts about whether a Tasmanian side would ever take the field.
The club has become mired in Tasmanian political controversy tied to the Liberal government’s commitment to build a new 23,000-seat, roofed stadium on the Hobart waterfront, which formed part of the state’s deal with the AFL.
In a press conference after the official event, the AFL’s chief executive, Andrew Dillon, said the construction of a new stadium was still non-negotiable. “It was a vital part of the case that was put to the [AFL] commission for the license,” Dillon said. “The club signed off on that.“Like any stadium development, there’s always twists and turns, but we’re really confident that we’ll be able to work with the government of the day to get it done.”
The first chair of the Tasmanian Football Club, Grant O’Brien, said new members could join the club for $10 as part of a recruitment drive.
“If you wish to see our Tasmanian teams in the AFL and AFLW succeed, then become a part of the Devils army now. That’s our plea. That’s our request.”
The AFL reached an “amicable agreement” with entertainment giant Warner Bros to use a logo that loosely references the Looney Tunes cartoon character Taz the Tasmanian devil. The
league had been warned that without this, it may be exposed to a lawsuit.
The unveiling of the name and colours is the culmination of a long campaign that stretches back to the late 1980s to secure a team from Tasmania in the national competition.
Football fans in Tasmania have had to console themselves with regular visits of Melbourne clubs, now Hawthorn and North Melbourne. Fitzroy became the first AFL club to play matches in the state, in 1991.
Hawthorn has had a relationship with Tasmania since 2001 and a major sponsorship deal with the state’s tourism agency was recently extended to 2025.
The Hawks will play three homeand-away matches in Launceston this season, in addition to the pre-season clash with the Western Bulldogs held earlier this month.
North Melbourne has four regular season matches in Hobart scheduled for this AFL season. Its AFLW side is formally known as the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos and played two matches in Tasmania last season. The club’s sponsorship with the Spirit of Tasmania ferry service expires in 2025.
The location, scale and cost of the 23,000 seat stadium – quoted at $715m – has drawn criticism from many in the state. Two conservative MPs, John Tucker and Lara Alexander, left the Liberal party and moved to the crossbench in 2023, citing a lack of transparency over the stadium deal.
The rebellion left the premier, Jeremy Rockliff, struggling to maintain control in parliament, and an election was called for Saturday 23 March.
The opposition leader, Rebecca White, has pledged to revisit the deal with the AFL, but the league has said the agreement is not up for negotiation.
Uncertainty over the stadium hangs over the new franchise, with the AFL maintaining that without a new stadium, there would not be a team.
Amid fears of cost overruns on the stadium, Rockliff has pledged to “cap” the state’s spending at $375m. The federal government has pledged $240m and the AFL $15m.
Rockliff has said the remainder will come from private investment.