The schedule for Tasmania’s Senior Talent Academy is locked in with Tasmania hosting five massive match ups of interstate football against high quality opposition across the season.
Teams from South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria will all travel to the apple isle to face our state men’s and women’s teams at venues across Tasmania’s three regions.
Norwood will kick things off on Sunday March 2, with a pre-season men’s and women’s double header against Tasmania at Kingston Twin Ovals.
The Redlegs have had a strong link to Tasmania in recent years, through former Senior Men’s coach Jade Rawlings and Tassie players Baynen Lowe, Jackson Callow, Tom Donnelly, Ben Simpson, Mitch O’Neill, Jake Cresswell, Alec Wright, Oliver Sanders and Candice Belbin all relocating to SA.
Tasmania’s women will then hit the field at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium on Saturday March 15, taking on VFLW side Port Melbourne. It’s set to be an exciting clash with the 2023 VFLW premiers, led by star Tasmanian goalkicker Jessie Williams.
Hobart will set the scene for some fierce Victorian rivalries with our men’s state side facing Frankston and our women taking on North Melbourne on Saturday March 22 The Kangaroos will travel south as reigning VFLW premiers, with Tasmanian stars Jen Guy and Georgia Nicholas featuring in their Grand Final triumph and continuing the state’s extensive history with the club. Frankston, meanwhile, enjoyed a strong finals run last season as one of the VFL’s few standalone clubs, and they will look to tune up for another big season.
Tasmania's men’s side then heads north on May 4 with UTAS Stadium hosting Sandringham. St Kilda’s VFL affiliate will provide a good test for Tassie’s finest, with a chance that AFL Saint and Launceston native Arie Schoenmaker could run out for the Zebras.
Queensland will get a taste of winter when they visit Latrobe on Saturday July 5, with a men’s and women’s double header. They’ll take on Tasmania for a third straight year, with the two states sharing honours in their last two double-headers. Tasmania’s men claimed a famous seven-point victory at North Hobart Oval in 2023 and followed that up with a dominant display on the Gold Coast last year, while Queensland’s women proved to be too strong and enjoyed impressive wins in both years.
Rounding out the state roster is Sydney/Canberra, with their men’s and women’s sides to face Tasmania at North Hobart oval on Saturday July 19. Sydney/Canberra impressed last year as they won both games in Launceston, and Tassie will be seeking revenge against a highly talented opposition.
Tasmania Devils Senior Talent Academy Head Coach, Jeromey Webberley is thrilled with the line up of matches in 2025.
“It is exciting to have the schedule locked in for our senior state teams – it is an incredible honour and opportunity for our best to play in the map and test ourselves against high quality opposition.
“It stacks the football calendar with more high-quality football right across our state for our best and provides a great mix of opposition for both spectators and players alike.
Jeromey said these matches also provide a significant opportunity for players ahead of a Tasmanian side joining the VFL and AFL.
“The senior talent academy has been excellent so far with the training in our three regions, we are coming up against some quality second tier football programs and that is an exciting challenge that we can’t wait for.”
“Players will face quality opposition, giving them insight into what's required to play at tier two level both from a physical and professional standpoint, as well as the opportunity to put their individual names into contention for future involvement in VFL/W programs.”
Full schedule:
Sunday March 2: Tasmania Men’s & Women’s v Norwood – Kingston Twin Ovals
Saturday March 15: Tasmania Women’s v Port Melbourne – UTAS Stadium
Saturday March 22: Tasmania Men’s v Frankston & Tasmania Women’s v North Melbourne – Hobart (Venue TBC)
Sunday May 4: Tasmania Men’s v Sandringham – UTAS Stadium
Saturday July 5: Tasmania Men’s & Women’s v Queensland – Latrobe Recreation Ground
Saturday July 19: Tasmania Men’s & Women’s v Sydney/Canberra – North Hobart Oval