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Thoughts? I know plenty of people who think scrapping state league was a bad idea.

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tl/dr - next year, 2027, the Devils have no soft cap so they can front load coaching contracts to get around the cap

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Kingborough Tigers brace for home ground loss in AFL centre build

Kingborough president Dan Wyllie says his club is “looking at the broader picture” as his club prepares for major change next season as its home undergoes upgrades. See how the club will be impacted and what is has planned.

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Tasmania Devils meet with highly regarded Cats figure

Just 10 days after being appointed Tassie Devils coach, Ken Hinkleyhas met with Geelong head of development Nigel Lappin as the Devils attempt to lure the highly regarded coach to the new club ahead of its entry into the AFL in 2028.

Lappin, who has been at the Cats since 2009, has been highly sought after by other clubs for his ability to create the right environment for young players to flourish in, and has won great respect for his work with several generations of players at Geelong.

The triple premiership Lion worked alongside Hinkley in his first season at the Cats and the pair are understood to have maintained a relationship since that time. He also played at the Lions alongside Devils’ football director Alastair Lynch.

Hinkley and club CEO Brendon Gale made it clear appointing a head of development and football manager were priorities in the next few months as they continue to scale up their football department.

“I have a philosophy that your footy manager is critical and I think your head of development down here is equally as critical,” Hinkley said last Monday. “They will be the target positions we have to go after first. They don’t have to be rushed but they need to be the right fit for what we’re going to do down here.”

Lappin was in Hobart on Wednesday to meet with key officials at the club as part of the selection process, according to two competition sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Devils already have a team in the VFL and will have access to the country’s best 17-year-olds as pre-draft selections over the next two seasons.

They can recruit a maximum of eight 17-year-olds in 2027, with Axel Walsh among the players they are looking to put on the list a year out from their first match.

Former Tigers star, Essendon coach and Geelong and West Coast assistant Matthew Knights is already with the Devils, setting up their academy program.

They will have the No.1 pick in next year’s draft as well as picks No.3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 with No.5, 7, 11, and 13 to be traded for player talent.

They can also recruit one uncontracted player from each club as part of their list build and are eyeing off players such as Dockers captain Alex Pearce, Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell and Collingwood’s Beau McCreery.

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Devils coach Georgia Walker balancing her AFLW ambitions VFLW role

When she was just eight years old Devils VFLW coach Georgia Walker planned her ultimate career goal which is now within her reach. This is how she plans to make the final step.

Tasmania coach Georgia Walker has one eye on a role with the Devils AFLW team when it arrives in 2028 and backs a proposed increase in the number of games for both the men’s and women’s VFL competitions next season.

As the Devils prepare for their round 12 clash with Essendon at Windy Hill on Saturday, Walker says a step into an AFLW role would be her goal.

Her experience speaks for itself – as well as being part of Collingwood’s inaugural AFLW team, Walker was an assistant-coach at St Kilda, and assistant-coach and head of development at GWS Giants.

She aims to transfer those skills to the Devils AFLW program.

“I have had a dream journal since I was eight-years-old, and it was to be an AFLW player or be an AFLW coach,” Walker said.

“It’s definitely something I aspire to be.

“I’m really loving where I am at with the Devils VFL team and the development process – I am really loving being able to head coach my own team.

“I would absolutely love to put myself in for that spot (a Devils AFLW role) but I am also loving what we are building, and I get very protective of my group so I might actually not want to leave them.”

The VFL clubs are talking behind the scenes about the possibility of playing 20 games next season, up from 18 this year.

Walker would like to see any games increase extended to the VFLW competition, which has 16 rounds.

“I would love to see more games next year,” she said.

“The AFLW players could filter down and play more games at their affiliate clubs.

“From a pathway point of view, that helps the pathway because you’ve got those (AFLW-listed) players all cycling down into the lower level, which would be unreal.”

Aaron Pidgeon, Tasmania Football Club’s head of football operations, is aware of a proposed change.

“We’re open to the increase,” he said.

“But given there’s no decision that has been made, to our knowledge, we haven’t given a great deal of consideration to the logistical implications just yet.

“We’re focused on getting through the remainder of this season and trying to make finals in both divisions.”

Walker does not plan player changes for the Bombers game.

“The team has been pretty consistent over the past few weeks, as have our performances, so I don’t see too many changes,” she said.

james.bresnehan@news.com.au

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Tasmania is eyeing a play for Lachie Ash as the AFL’s 19th club eyes a second Giants star.

The Devils have already been linked to Tom Green, who, like Ash, is out of contract in 2027.

Nine’s Joel Kennedy reports Tassie is “ramping up its pursuit” of the competition's stars after the club last week appointed Ken Hinkley as its inaugural coach.

“The latest name on that hit list is GWS defender Lachie Ash,” Kennedy said.

“He is contracted until the end of 2027, that aligns perfectly for the Devils. They’re set to make a serious play for him.

“Tom Green is another Giant in their sights. With a $5 million signing bonus pool in their back pocket, Tasmania is about to get very, very active.”

Spent last night making the intro which I found amusing enough to just finish the whole thing.

Subtitled are definitely cooked

PRE ORDER - Ken Oath Tee

KEN OATH Limited Edition T-Shirt

Celebrate a historic moment for the Devils with the limited Edition of KEN OATH t-shirt, created to mark the announcement of Ken Hinkley as our inaugural AFL Head Coach.

Featuring an exclusive KEN OATH map illustration printed on our Tasmanian-made signature Devils bottle green unisex tee. This limited edition design is made for Devils fans who want to wear this milestone loud and proud!

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