Tasmania are set to become the 19th AFL team by 2028.
The new team will officially be launched later this month, with the league and its newest side set to reveal the name of the club, the logo and the colours of the guernsey across multiple locations throughout the community in Tasmania in what will be a historic day.
Veteran journalist Jon Ralph was quick to disclose throughย News Corp that Tasmania will follow a traditional theme, naming the side the 'Devils' and keeping the predominantly green strip seen on the state's jumper as well.
The guernsey will follow on from the Talent League Under-18 Tasmanian representatives, not to mention the similarities to the old-fashioned jumper used during the State of Origin, dating back as recently as 1990.
Despite ongoing negotiations with Warner Bros and the AFL over using the name 'Tasmanian Devils' - who hold the corporate copyright -ย strong progress has been made to ensure that the popular option will be agreed upon moving forward.
Although names like Swifts (inspired by Swift Parrot) and Penguins have been flagged, 'Devils' is reportedly the overwhelming favourite.
But who will don the state's forest green guernsey? Will there be any marquee signings? And who will coach the AFL's 19th side?
We did our best to investigate who would be worthwhile targets for the AFL's soon-to-be newest team.
Who will coach Tasmania in 2028?
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon has it on record that he'd love to see an experienced and successful coach go down to lead the new side.
Learning from the mistakes made at Gold Coast - who signed the untried Guy McKenna - Dillon indicated a seasoned, premiership coach like Chris Scott would be ideal.
In a confidence boost, the Kevin Sheedy-GWS partnership undoubtedly yielded some positive results, despite the very slow start.
Winning three games in two years under Sheedy, the club featured in September six out of the next 10 seasons.
Although not a direct correlation, there is no doubt that the Australian Football Hall of Fame recipient - who was elevated to legend status in 2018 - left his mark.
So who's available in Dillon's ideal world?
The Scott brothers are locked away to their respective clubs until the end of 2026.
Alastair Clarkson - whose five-year deal at North Melbourne takes him to Tasmania's inaugural season (2028) - would have to be considered.
Melbourne's Simon Goodwin comes out of contract at the end of 2026 and, by that point, will have been at the club for 10 years as senior coach.
Luke Beveridge's name gets thrown around often, whether he's the right man for the job at Whitten Oval. Could he be an option?
Adam Simpson, given his uncertain future at West Coast amid their turmoil, should be included in Tasmania's consideration.
However, looking outside current AFL coaches both Leon Cameron and Nathan Buckley emerge as potential candidates.
Both had long tenures at GWS and Collingwood respectively and were proven in their performance, leading their respective clubs to multiple finals series and a losing grand final.
Who should Tasmania target for 2028?
Initially, the soon-to-be-named 'Devils' should look at the local talent, with a strong cohort coming through over the past decade.
In the most recent draft, four players were selected from Tasmania, including three inside the top 17.
North Melbourne's Colby McKercher, Western Bulldogs' Ryley Sanders and GWS' James Leake are all touted to be future stars of the game.
St Kilda's Arie Schoenmaker - who was tipped to potentially go in the top 20 - slipped to Pick 62 in an absolute steal for the club.
The quartet will all be 23 years old when Tasmania enter the league and will be ripe for the picking come 2028.
From the previous three drafts comes a handful of talent that is spread between Carlton, Essendon, Port Adelaide and Richmond.
In that bunch are three small forwards (Jye Menzie, Seth Campbell and Rhyan Mansell) and three defenders (Lachlan Cowan, Tom McCallum and Sam Banks) who will be hitting their prime as the 'Devils' begin their journey.
Experienced defenders Alex Pearce (Fremantle), Jake Kolodjashnij (Geelong) and Lachie Weller (Gold Coast)ย also hail from the state of Tasmania.
Pearce, Kolodjashnij and Weller will be 32 years old in 2028 and could provide invaluable knowledge and experience to the start-up side, similar to Luke Hodge at Brisbane or Sam Mitchell at West Coast.
Adelaide's Chayce Jones sits in between the two age groups, listed at a youthful 24. Alike some of his fellow Tasmanians, he could be a prospect who could help build the 2028 list into the future.
But what successful clubs have shown in years gone by is their ability to attract top-end talent.
The Giants were able to secure players like Ryan Griffen, Phil Davis and Heath Shaw to complement the highly gifted youngsters they developed from the draft.
In 2023, Collingwood took a "Moneyball"ย approach and saw a need for Tom Mitchell, Bobby Hill, Daniel McStay and Billy Frampton.
Mitchell came fourth in the club's best and fairest, Frampton helped nullify Harris Andrews' influence in the grand final while Hill snatched the Norm Smith Medal with an outstanding four-goal performance.
Tasmania must do the same. But where do they start?
Will Day and Hayden Young both come out of their long-term contracts at the end of 2027.
After a breakout season in 2023, Day was rewarded with the Peter Crimmins Medal (Hawthorn's best and fairest), pipping fellow midfielder Jai Newcombe.
The 22-year-old is touted to become the next big thing in the AFL and will undoubtedly receive plenty of opposition attention toward the latter part of his current deal.
Fremantle's Young also experienced an explosive year, coming fifth in the Dockers' best and fairest after more midfield minutes.
Under coach Justin Longmuir, the left-footer is expected to be seen more in the guts from 2024 and beyond and has proven to be a lethal asset with the ball in his hand.
St Kilda's Rowan Marshall is a viable ruck option, with his upward trajectory exciting fans and proving to be an issue for the opposition.
Sydney's Tom McCartin could help lockdown the back six while Power forward Mitch Georgiades has the potential to be anything, with the pair and Marshall also unsigned at the cessation of the 2027 season.
Using the GWS blueprint when the club first made a finals appearance, in 2016, the club boasted nine-experienced players from rival clubs on their list whilst it was littered with talent from the draft.
During their tremendous finals run that ended in the preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs, eight of those played, with Steve Johnson only missing due to suspension.
As evident in the Giants' history, the key is providing development and opportunity to improve.
Will Brendon Gale be the CEO of the 'Devils'?
Richmond CEO and local Burnie product Brendon Gale is reportedly set to depart Punt Road.
After falling short of the AFL's CEO position - which was made vacant by Gillon McLachlan's departure in 2023 - Gale looks ready for a new challenge.
Having been at the Tigers since 2009 and as a player from 1990, the Tasmanian could be on the move.
A great option for the 'Devils', Gale's experience is second to none and will help steer the ship of the new 19th club to greener pastures.
Gale was instrumental in delivering a drought-breaking premiership in 2017 whilst playing a big hand in leading Richmond to the powerhouse that it is.
As mentioned on the Dyl and Friends Podcast, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon wants Tasmania to hit the ground running.
โWhat we learnt now for Tassie when we look at Gold Coast and the Giants is making sure they are competitive from the start. With Gold Coast and the Giants they were given the luxury of having a build,โ Dillon said.
โFor Tassie, the Tasmanians are not wanting to win one game in the first year and then two games. They will want to hit the ground running so we will tweak the rules and then the thing is to have the best facilities as early as possible.โ
And if they consider any of these names, they should do just that.
