Tasmania Football Club members, get ready to cheer on your Devils. In 2026, the club will take a major step forward, fielding teams in both the Smithy’s Victorian Football League (VFL) and the rebel Victorian Football League Women’s (VFLW).
It will be Tasmania’s first return to the VFL as a state since 2008, and its inaugural entry into the VFLW. Both teams will compete on a full-time basis from 2026, with the state set to host VFL and VFLW opposition on a regular basis. Fixtures will be confirmed in the coming months, with matches to be staged across Tasmania’s three regions, giving members and supporters the chance to see their club in action.
This historic step lays a vital foundation for Tasmania’s entry into the AFL and AFLW in 2028, while immediately strengthening the state’s talent pathway for both men and women.
In a landmark initiative, the club will introduce a ‘golden ticket’ for aspiring AFL and AFLW players. At least two rookie list positions will be guaranteed for players who participate in the VFL and VFLW programs across 2026 and 2027, with scope for up to four in total.
This opportunity is unmatched anywhere in the country and underscores the club’s commitment to rewarding and developing Tasmanian talent.
The introduction of VFL and VFLW programs fills a long-standing gap in Tasmania’s football structure, providing a crucial bridge for players to remain in the state while striving for higher honours. The initiative is expected to attract both returning Tasmanians and new players to the state.
Recruitment of coaches, high-performance staff, and players is already underway, with pre-season for both squads scheduled to begin in November. From 2026, the program will hold regular statewide sessions while operating across multiple locations, including a combined greater northern hub, ahead of the opening of the club’s training and administration centre in Kingston. This approach allows players to stay in their communities while competing at VFL and VFLW level. Every listed player will be linked to a Premier League club in either the NWFL, NTFA or SFL.
The club has also appointed Aaron Pidgeon, former Netball Tasmania CEO and Head of Tasmania for North Melbourne Football Club, as its inaugural Head of VFL and VFLW. Pidgeon has commenced in the role and is actively establishing the program alongside Head of List Management and Strategy, Todd Patterson, and Head of Recruiting, Derek Hine.
Tasmania Football Club CEO, Brendon Gale, said this is an exciting and strategic step in the development of the football club.
“Our entry into the VFL and VFLW marks the start of our on-field journey and plays a crucial role in laying the foundations for our AFL and AFLW teams in 2028.
“It also 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."
Head of AFL Tasmania Damian Gill said it’s been a long time coming.
“We are overjoyed. This is something we’ve long seen as critical for Tasmanian talent, and we’re thankful the club has prioritised it. It’s always been a key plank in our plan for local football.
“From where I sit, this fills a gap that’s existed in our pathway for too long. Young Tasmanians can now stay home, develop here, and chase their dream in the Devils jumper.
“For years we’ve watched talent leave the state. The VFL and VFLW end that cycle – our kids now have a genuine pathway from Auskick through to AFL and AFLW, all in Tasmania
“It’s really important to me that this is a statewide story. The fact we’ll be playing across the North, North-West, and South matters - we need three strong regions for a thriving footy ecosystem in our state.
“This strengthens every layer of the game - from Auskick right through to the elite pathway. It means Tasmanians can now stay, play, and test themselves at home. For the first time we’ve got a concentrated Devils pathway from under-13s through to VFL/VFLW and soon AFL/AFLW. It fills a hole that’s been there far too long and stops the bleeding of talent leaving the state.”