Tasmanian Devils' AFL draft concessions for 2028 announced

While fledgling AFL club the Tasmania Devils still face an existential crisis over whether or not a new AFL stadium will be built in Hobart, how a new AFL team would be built has become much clearer with the AFL signing off on a massive list of concessions for the club's entry to the national league.

Key concessions include:

Number one draft pick in 2027

Signing up to 18 out-of-contract AFL players, with a maximum of one player per club.

Signing bonus pool of $5,000,000 in addition to the salary cap to help lure players from interstate.

The head of list management and strategy for the Tasmania Devils Football Club (TDFC), Todd Patterson, said he was delighted with the outcome.

"We're really happy, and the AFL, they were great through the whole process. It was a real collaboration, and even the contributions from the other clubs.

"I think there's a lot of goodwill towards us in this process. I'd say now that this package has landed, the goodwill will be gone, and it's now time to compete."

First pick in the 2027 national draft

The Devils will get the number one selection in the 2027 National Draft along with picks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13, but selections 5, 7, 11 and 13 must be traded to other clubs either for players or other draft picks.

The club will also get the first selection in each subsequent round of the 2027 draft as well as further draft concessions in the 2028 and 2029 national drafts.

Mr Patterson said it was difficult to compare the Devils' hand to the draft assistance provided to the GWS Giants and Gold Coast Suns, but those deals were heavily referenced in the negotiations.

Tasmania's head of recruiting, Derek Hine, said the 2027 draft was already looking strong and should enhance the value of the picks to be traded at the negotiating table.

"The 15s and 16s are a really strong group, so that allows the value of the picks to rise," he said.

Priority access to academy players

The Devils will have an expanded list of up to 48 players for the first four years of AFL competition, and a Tasmanian Academy will be developed in line with northern AFL academies, giving the Devils priority access to academy players.

"Probably the thing we were most pleased about with the whole package was our access to Tasmanian talent," Mr Patterson said

Mr Hine said there was already plenty of interest from players and their managers about moving to Tasmania.

"We don't have to speak to them because they've been speaking to us … it's been quite overwhelming."

Mr Hine said he has been surprised by the calibre of some of the players who had reached out to the club.

"We're not saying for one minute this is not going to be hard. There's going to be some bumps along the way, but I think with the experience from the chairman all the way down, we've got a group of staff, both on-field and off-field, that are really driven to make this a success," he said.

"The way the community has really jumped on board is just fuelling that enthusiasm. It's really exciting."

Option for sons to join TDFC

In news that might send a shudder down the spine of St Kilda fans, anyone who was born in Tasmania and has played at least 100 AFL games will have their children eligible to become a father-son selection for Tasmania.

It means the sons of Nick Riewoldt and Jack Riewoldt would be eligible for father-son selection for the Devils.

Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt has three sons, while his cousin, Richmond's triple premiership player Jack Riewoldt, has one.

Mr Patterson's immediate focus could be elsewhere.

"I know my ex-Melbourne counterparts are hoping I stay away from [former Melbourne Football Club's] Russell Robertson's young fella, but we'll see. We might have to start competing a bit harder with them now," he said.

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