Having been awarded the AFL's 19th licence in 2023, the newly formed Tasmania Devils have continued down the path of preparing for competition whilst the Tasmanian Parliament continues to grapple with whether to proceed with a new stadium in Hobart, which the AFL has insisted is a condition of entry.
The most recent estimates in May priced the total cost of the stadium at $945m, making it likely that cost blowouts along the way would tip the final price into billion-dollar territory.
Conflict with the AFL continues to rage after the re-elected Rockliff Liberal government promised to cap its own spend on the stadium at just $375m, well short of the total mark.
Despite that, the AFL confirmed on Friday afternoon that the transition is moving forward steadily.
Tasmania previously competed in the VFL between the 2001 and 2008 seasons, reaching the preliminary finals in 2004 before being defeated by eventual Premiers Sandringham.
The club will split its home games between Hobart's Blundstone Arena and Launceston's UTAS Stadium whilst the north coast township of Penguin, between Burnie and Devonport, is also being explored as a potential third location.
AFL executive Greg Swann described the move as an exciting step forward for Tasmanian football.
"More than 210,000 members have signed up and pledged their support, signifying great momentum and backing for the club. The introduction into the VFL and VFLW competitions is another milestone in the club’s short history," Swann said.
“A clear component of the licence bid from the Tasmanian taskforce was a new roofed stadium at Macquarie Point with a capacity of at least 23,000. The AFL’s continued position is that this is a condition for the grant of the 19th licence.”
Tasmania Devils CEO Brendon Gale says the VFL/VFLW entry "addresses a long-standing gap in the Tasmanian football pathway.
"For too long, local players have had to leave the state to pursue elite opportunities. This is the beginning of a new Tasmania Football Club pathway that allows Tasmanian talent to develop, perform and be rewarded – right here at home."
Tasmania Devils will spend the 2026 and 2027 seasons developing their squads in the VFL/VFLW.
As part of their development, the Devils have introduced a 'golden ticket' initiative to guarantee at least two rookie spots on their AFL/AFLW lists for players who participate in the 2026-27 campaigns, "with scope for up to four in total" according to the club.
