Tasmania Devils Pursue Star AFL Talent

The Tasmania Devils, the incoming AFL club, are actively preparing to offer contracts to rival players. They recently showcased their club to over 30 player managers in Hobart as part of their strategy to attract top-tier talent.

Daicos Discussions Begin

Paul Connors, a prominent agent whose company manages Collingwood star Nick Daicos, stated that his firm would consider engaging in discussions with the Devils regarding the 23-year-old player. Daicos is currently contracted with Collingwood until the end of 2029 and has not ruled out considering Tasmania in the future.

Connors emphasized that it would be "negligent" not to explore such an opportunity given Daicos's caliber.

Incentives and Obstacles

The Devils are equipped with significant resources to entice players. They possess a $5 million sign-on bonus fund to attract players during the 2027 and 2028 trade and free agency periods. Furthermore, they have access to 11 first-round draft picks over three years, with six of these mandated to be traded for established players.

Devils list boss Todd Patterson acknowledged Daicos's expressed interest but highlighted the difficulty of acquiring him while he is under a lengthy contract.

Securing Daicos while under contract until 2029 would be challenging, suggesting it is "more unlikely than likely" at this stage due to the immense trade capital required.

However, Patterson noted a long-term strategic factor: Daicos would become a free agent in 2029, aligning with their list-building timeline.

Wider Talent Pool and Early Talks

Other agents are also open to exploring opportunities with the new club. Ben Williams from Players Ink Sports Management, whose clients include key players like Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (contracted until 2027), Errol Gulden (2028), Logan McDonald (2028), Isaac Heeney (2028), and Riley Thilthorpe (2028), expressed openness to considering offers for these currently contracted players.

Brendon Gale, Devils chief executive, confirmed the club has already held meetings with prospective players. Todd Patterson specified that approximately six men's and two women's players have met with the club regarding their interest in joining by the end of 2027. This indicates an upcoming increase in recruitment efforts once their list and Total Player Payments (TPP) strategy is finalized.