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‘I knew if the opportunity presented itself I would be silly to pass it up.’
Tasmania’s first player Axel Walsh reveals main reason for signing is chance to work under Nigel Lappin The club on Tuesday night unveiled their inaugural eight recruits, seven of them 17-year-olds who would have been eligible for the draft in 2027.
Top of the class was Western Australia’s Axel Walsh, a forward ruck considered likely to be the No.1 pick at the next draft. Walsh, who will move to Tasmania in November after finishing his schooling, said the opportunity to learn under head coach Ken Hinkley and Lappin was too good to refuse. Three-time premiership winner Lappin was in August announced as the Devils’ inaugural head of development, ending an 18-year association with Geelong.
The 50-year-old is regarded as one of the top developers in the league and previously turned down offers to stay with the Cats.
“Nigel at Geelong, we’ve seen the success they’ve had. I knew if the opportunity presented itself I would be silly to pass it up,” Walsh said on Wednesday. Despite being from the west, Walsh supported Geelong growing up and said he idolised Melbourne ruck star Max Gawn. Walsh and his fellow rookies were presented with jumpers at a club event, where a video showing Tasmania’s footy history and battles securing a licence was played.
“Tasmania’s people have wanted a team for a very long time. It was goosebumps,” Walsh said, denying he felt the weight of responsibility.
“We’re just really excited to represent the island. ” Small forward Angus Brown, who hails from the Sandringham Dragons, also said Lappin’s presence was behind his decision to join the Devils.
“I’m not really thinking about it as a leap of faith,” Brown said. “There is a very nice vibe. Plenty of things to do, whether you’re social or somebody who wants to get out in nature. ” The Devils, who enter the AFL in 2028, will hope their rookies can follow a similar career trajectory to Jeremy Cameron, Adam Treloar and Dylan Shiel, who signed with GWS under the same list concession.
The eight could dip their toe into VFL footy in 2027, but will be developed on a case-by-case basis, Tasmania’s head of list management and strategy Todd Patterson said.
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