Jimmy Bartel has lauded AFL clubs for being proactive in signing their star players on mega deals, as the league gears up to welcome the 19th team Tasmania Devils in 2028.
Tasmania’s impact on the league will begin to be felt from the 2024 draft, with new first-round deals to increase to a minimum of three years.
It means players who are drafted in 2024 will be out of contract by the time the Devils enter the league, which could likely see players in this year’s, 2025, 2026 and 2027 drafts be poached by Tasmania.
It also means that current players who come out of contract in 2028 will be able to move down south to join the 19th AFL club.
Bartel declared that clubs who have locked down key players until after the Devils enter the competition are thinking of their future success.For example, Carlton have signed forward Harry McKay until 2030, Collingwood have locked in Josh Daicos until the same year and Port Adelaide’s captain Connor Rozee is on a mega deal that sees him at Alberton until 2032.
“I know a number of people begrudgingly look at long term contract and think ‘why would you give six years (deals)?’,” Bartel said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
“What they’re trying to do is get them (players) out beyond that 2028 period (when Tasmania join).
“You want to take these guys completely off the market and 2030 certainly does that.”
Leading AFL journalist Damien Barrett explained how the Devils’ impact will begin to be felt as early as season 2025.
“This is going to, as of this upcoming draft in 2024, start affecting the incumbent football clubs,” Barrett said.
“We know what happened in 2011 and 2012, respectively Gold Coast and GWS coming in (they had the first 11 picks of each draft).
“What’s important now is this year’s draft, with the new three-years (contracts) for first round draft picks, they come out (of contract) at the perfect time for team Tassie.”
Matthew Lloyd has urged AFL clubs to prepare early for Tasmania to raid not only the draft, but their clubs ahead of their debut season, which is still another four years away.
“The year before the Giants came in, they had 11 of the first 14 selections (at the draft). That’s where Toby Greene came and all these champion players for the GWS Giants,” Lloyd said.
“So you’d want to get your next three drafts right if you’re an existing club, otherwise you’ll be in the hole for a long time.”
Tasmania has already surpassed 125,000 founding members since being launched on Monday night.
OTHER;Tasmania Devils unveil fresh recruit
With Cripps the Master Baker joining the Tasmania Devils as the inaugural major partner.
Cripps will be supporting the Devils as they embark on their first season in the NAB League, the country’s premier underage sporting competition.
The competition started last week with the Devils having an opening round bye, they will open their 2019 season with a road trip to Blacktown to take on the Sydney Swans Academy this Saturday.
Tasmania Devils Football Manager Craig Notman believes Cripps is a fantastic fit as major partner.
“We are really excited to welcome Cripps, an iconic Tasmanian brand joining forces with our Devils brand that is at the start of an exciting journey.
“The Devils will showcase our best young football products and that links well with Cripps, who have been producing fine Tasmanian products since 1878.
“Cripps are fantastic supporters of football in Tasmania and we look forward to a great partnership.”
Cripps CEO Paul Gadomski is proud to be the new official major partner of the Tasmania Devils.
“It’s exciting to be offered the opportunity to be the founding partner with the Devils as they embark on their new exciting journey; like us they are a truly statewide Tasmanian team and it makes us feel just like William Cripps would have 141 years ago, when he started a journey in baking in Tasmania that is truly only just beginning,” Gadomski explained.
“Cripps partnering with the new Devils brand and team gives them strength, just like Cripps bread gives Tasmanian’s strength and energy to start their days.
“Just like the young Devils, we at Cripps have also put in a big preseason, with bread bake time trials, dough agility tests, and dough crafting skill work”. “Like them we are fit and now itching to get this partnership started and watch these young devils rise to the occasion representing Tasmanian football on the BIG stage.
“This new era is exciting for us, The Cripps logo is a trusted stamp of quality, respected by many and that is why we had no hesitation branding these young Devils, they will represent us, Tasmania and themselves proudly in a competition that has been freshened up with a Tasmanian presence.
“We are truly looking forward to watching this fresh talent seize their opportunity to Master their craft. They haven’t been loafing around in the off season and we know they will make their mark, with our mark right there with them for every kick, mark, handball and tackle and goal. Tassie home grown talent raised on Cripps.”
Brendon Gale, the architect behind Richmond’s premiership dynasty, will become the inaugural chief executive officer of the Tasmania Football Club.
The announcement came the same afternoon Gale announced his departure as Richmond CEO at the end of the 2024 season.
The 55-year-old, who hails from Burnie on Tasmania’s north-west coast, helped turn Richmond from perennial battlers to a footballing force on and off the field.
Under his reign, the Tigers won three premierships during a golden span that begun in 2017 and peaked with the 2020 flag, while signing up 100,000 members.
He will commence in his role with Tasmania early in the new year, and be responsible for transitioning the fledgling club from its foundation phase into its operational phase.
Gale will make key appointments including football department staff, which will shape the team’s inaugural playing list ahead of its first game in 2028.
He will also spearhead the club’s involvement in the construction of its new home — a 23,000 seat roofed stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point.
Devils happy to wait, team chair says
Tasmania Devils chair Grant O’Brien said Gale’s appointment represented “an enormous vote of confidence in our club”.
Tasmania’s AFL club launched as Devils
“Brendon is fully committed to focusing on completing his role at the Richmond Football Club in the same professional manner that has been a feature of his leadership at the club,” Mr O’Brien said.
“While we are excited, we respect the fact that he has a big job to complete before we can welcome him home to Tasmanian football.”
Mr O’Brien said the CEO’s appointment delivered “another significant milestone for the Devils” and “clearly signifies the club progressing toward its debut season in 2028”.
AFL boss welcomes appointment
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon congratulated Gale on his accomplishments at Richmond and on his appointment as the inaugural Devils CEO.
“Brendon is one the great leaders in our industry and has made an incredible impact on the Richmond footy club during his 15 years as chief executive,” Mr Dillon said.
“His proven experience in establishing and leading high-performing environments see him as perfect fit as the first CEO for the Tasmania Devils and will see the club set up for success from the start.
“Brendon is an important appointment for Tasmania, and I want to congratulate Grant O’Brien and his team.
“I’m looking forward to continue working with Brendon in his current role at Richmond and then when he starts at the Devils next year.”
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