Retired Richmond legend Jack Riewoldt is bullish about the local leadership options for the incoming Tasmanian team.
The three-time premiership Tiger discussed the likes of Richmond CEO Brendan Gale, Brisbane senior coach Chris Fagan, and Collingwood assistant Brendon Bolton.
As Richmond's CEO during its historic three-flag era from 2017-2020, Gale is the most prominent figure being speculated to guide the club in its initial years, hailing from Burnie on Tasmania's northwest coast.
"It's certainly not in my pay grade making decisions like that (potentially chasing Gale), or even floating ideas like that," Riewoldt said on Sunday, regarding his former club's chief executive.
While not a necessity that the coaching and management staff are homegrown for the club's AFL debut, Riewoldt is excited by the plethora of local talent potentially waiting in the wings.
"There's such a strong interest there (from fellow Tasmanians in the AFL) about what's happening. There's interest there because it's in their workspace, but the added incentive is it's in their state," Riewoldt continued.
"We mentioned with the basketball team (the NBL's Tasmania JackJumpers, coached by American Scott Roth) that you don't have to have a Tasmanian coach. But the reality is we do have some really great options for coaching, administration, and clearly from a playing point of view.
"As you scour the league there's Tasmanians who pop up everywhere. Chris Fagan is obviously [the] coach of the Brisbane Lions [and] Brendon Bolton (Collingwood's director of coaching) [played] a pivotal role in the most current premiership side.
"To know there's administrators, recruiters, coaches and players, at both men's and women's levels that can come in here and fill the void easily (is exciting).
"It's vitally important we continue to get those people back into Tasmania. Whether that be fleeting visits while still living away, or on a more permanent basis."
Tasmania's AFL and AFLW teams will join the competition in 2028 after some preparatory years in the VFL starting in 2025 or 2026.