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Tasmania Devils sign first batch of players, including local prospect who bypassed AFL draft

Hugh McCallum among eight teenagers committed to AFL's 19th club ahead of 2028 entry

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time1 min
Sources2 outlets
The Tasmania Devils have unveiled their first group of players ahead of their AFL debut in 2028, headlined by homegrown talent Hugh McCallum, who opted out of this year's national draft to commit to the league's 19th club.

Little more than two months after Ken Hinkley was confirmed as the inaugural coach, the Devils announced the signatures of eight teenage prospects: Axel Walsh, Jake Miller, Angus Brown, Riley Stratford, Baxter Sruk, Griffin Barker, Nate Jenkins, and Hugh McCallum. The club described them as the initial signings of the AFL's newest expansion team, with their first game still about a year-and-a-half away.

Most notable is McCallum, an 18-year-old wingman from Clarence who was attracting interest from other AFL clubs. The Devils' football hierarchy, led by Hinkley and head of development Nigel Lappin, convinced him to withdraw from this year's draft and aim for round one, 2028, to launch his AFL career.

McCallum is the brother of former Port Adelaide draftee Tom McCallum and the son of Scott McCallum, a member of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame. His signing represents a significant coup for the Devils as they build their inaugural list.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The Devils are assembling their first playing group from scratch, setting the foundation for competitiveness when they enter the AFL in 2028.
  • Convincing a local prospect to bypass the draft signals the club's ability to attract and retain Tasmanian talent, a key measure of the expansion's success.
  • The signings mark a shift from planning to execution, with the club now having real players committed to its future.

Background

The Tasmania Devils will become the AFL's 19th club, with their first season scheduled for 2028. The expansion follows years of campaigning for a Tasmanian team. Ken Hinkley was appointed as the club's first head coach in July 2026, and the club has since been building its football department and list. The draft bypass strategy allows the Devils to secure young talent without competing in the national draft, giving them an early advantage in list building.

Key Perspectives

Tasmania Devils: The club secures a pipeline of local talent and builds early commitment from prospects who might otherwise be poached by established clubs. Established AFL clubs: Clubs that were monitoring McCallum lose access to a promising young player, potentially altering their draft strategies. Critics of expansion: Some question whether the Devils can build a competitive list quickly enough, though early signings like McCallum suggest the club is attracting quality.

What to Watch

  • Whether more Tasmanian prospects follow McCallum's lead and commit to the Devils before future drafts.
  • The club's next player announcements as it continues to build its roster ahead of 2028.
  • How the Devils perform in their initial AFL season, given this early foundation.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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