Footy in Tasmania is booming and showing no signs of slowing down. Since the announcement of the Tasmania Devils, participation has exploded statewide, up 45% in just two years, with Auskick alone growing 65% per cent. Tasmanian kids have well and truly chosen footy again in 2025.
Boys and girls are flocking to their local clubs as excitement builds ahead of the Devils’ VFL and VFLW entry next year. This year alone, participation jumped another 13 per cent, delivering consecutive years of double-digit growth after a 27 per cent increase in 2024, and pushing Tasmania close to 24,000 registered participants. The momentum behind the growth in entry-level programs is enormous. In 2023, AFL Tasmania set the goal of reaching 28,000 registered participants by first bounce in 2028 from a base of 16,500. This surge now has the state on track to hit that target well ahead of schedule.
Tasmania was the first state in the country to meet its 2025 participation growth target and continues to lead nationally across multiple programs, reflecting the genuine appetite for the game right across the island.
The biggest spike is at entry-level programs, with more Tasmanian boys and girls opting in to footy. NAB AFL Superkick has skyrocketed, up 77 per cent across the state, with the Southern region delivering a remarkable 140 per cent lift. Auskick continues to surge as well, up 19 per cent statewide in 2025 following a 38 per cent increase last year.
Off the back of the NTJFA Review, opportunities are growing in the North with clubs now taking registrations for new Under 8 and Girls Under 10 competitions. These competitions will grow the game to new heights in the north, providing a more sustainable pathway for the growing number of Auskick and Superkick participants.
Footy in the North West has also had a strong year, seeing a 62% growth in community Superkick participation in North West Tasmania and 103 more females engaged in community football in the region. A significant boost for the women’s competitions in the region, offering a larger pool of young players to support the long-term sustainability of NWFL clubs.
Among all the progress, girls are leading the way across Tasmania:
- 39 per cent of all Superkickers are girls, the highest in the country
- 30 per cent of Auskickers are girls
- Girls junior football participation rose 8 per cent
- Girls youth participation grew 4 per cent
New all-girls centres and club-based initiatives are helping more young Tasmanian girls pick up a footy for the first time, and the growth at Auskick and Superkick level is now flowing directly into community football.
In addition to registered participation, AFL Tasmania delivered more than 145 school sessions in 2025, reaching over 25,500 students, alongside new initiatives to support clubs to better engage female participants.
The momentum continues into 2026, with expanded juniors in the north, more Under-8 teams in the south, and strengthened youth competitions across the Northwest.
Community Football Manager Tom Barwick said the appetite for footy in Tasmania isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
“There has never been a better time to play footy in Tasmania and the numbers show the excitement is palpable right across our communities. A big thank you must go to our associations and clubs, and of course the mums and dads. Volunteers drive our game, and this growth is only possible because of the many passionate footy people who make it happen.
“More girls and boys than ever are joining their local Auskick and Superkick centres and we’re pleased to see more girls realising their passion for our game.
“Inside two years since the Devils were launched participation has soared by 45% and Auskick continues to explode with a 65% jump across two football seasons.
“We have also seen a whopping 77% increase in Superkick from 2024 is a demonstration of the eagerness for footy as excitement around Devils grows stronger.
“Our vision is for footy to be the heartbeat of all Tasmanian communities and this year’s growth shows that we’re well on our way.”
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