Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Highly touted Western Australian youngster Axel Walsh, a host of Victorians and one local talent have been snapped up by the Tasmania Devils as their first signings.
The club, which will enter the AFL and AFLW in 2028, on Tuesday night revealed eight under-17 players it had signed as part of its list-concession build.
Tasmania can sign up to 12 pre-draft 17-year-old players across 2026 and 2027, taking them out of the AFL draft.
Top of the tree was Walsh, an athletic 202cm forward-ruck who averaged 12.8 disposals and 10.3 hitouts and kicked three goals in four matches at the most recent under-18 carnival.
He was likely to be the No.1 pick in the 2027 draft.
Victorians Jake Miller, Angus Brown, Riley Stratford, Baxter Sruk, Griffin Barker and Nate Jenkins have also joined.
Miller, at 197cm, has been described as a regular goal kicker at club and school level, Brown has a zippy running game, while midfielder Sruk has an ability to rack up possessions.
Tasmanian draft prospect Hugh McCallum, who was sidelined this season with a knee injury, has also been signed.
A lightly-framed wingman or half-forward, McCallum is the brother of former Port Adelaide-listed defender Tom McCallum.
The Devils will be hoping the group can follow the lead of Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar, who forged successful careers after being signed by the Giants through the same concession rules prior to their inaugural 2012 season.
“It’s a proud moment to welcome our first group of Tasmania Devils players to our state,” coach Ken Hinkley said in a club statement.
“I am excited to be working with such a talented group of young footballers, all of whom have tremendous skill sets and AFL attributes already.”
McCallum was the final player announced – etching his name in history as the first native Devils contracted player.
“I’m stoked to be a part of it. Growing up you used to have to go to the mainland to play AFL,” he said.
Players were assessed at national championships, school and local matches, and were benchmarked against their age group.
All pre-listed players will move to the state in November and begin their preparation for 2028 with individualised training programs.
The under-17 concessions are among the generous list-build options available to the Devils, who also have seven first-round draft picks in 2027 including the first and the third.
