Tasmania Devils fans will have something to cheer for during the AFL’s biggest day with Devils speedster Brandon Leary taking part in the Telstra Half-Time Sprint at the MCG this Saturday.
The Devils are yet to play a game at AFL level, but Leary will carry the state’s colours onto football’s biggest stage during half time of the AFL Grand Final.
The 23-year-old earned the spot after a standout first VFL season with Tasmania.
He will line up against reigning sprint champion Jed Walter of the Gold Coast Suns, Willem Duursma of West Coast, Luke Davies-Uniacke of North Melbourne, Arthur Jones of the Western Bulldogs, Jarman Impey of Hawthorn, Ollie Florent of Carlton and Aliir Aliir of Port Adelaide.
Sydney 2000 Olympic 400m gold medallist Cathy Freeman will fire the starting gun.
Telstra will donate $5,000 to the winner’s junior football club.
Leary was overlooked in the 2022 AFL Draft despite a strong campaign with Tasmania’s under-18 side.
He trialled with Hawthorn during the 2023 pre-season supplemental selection period but did not land a contract.
He returned home and starred for North Launceston in the TSL, kicking 58 goals in 15 games last year before joining the Devils’ first VFL squad.
Leary played 19 games for Tasmania this season.
Off the track, Leary is shaping as a strong chance to join the Devils’ first AFL list in 2028.
He has drawn interest from Adelaide, Geelong and Collingwood ahead of this year’s draft, but AFL.com said it understood he has told those clubs he will not nominate.
Tasmania can sign up to four VFL-listed players from 2026 and 2027 under its golden ticket concession.
The club will announce its first batch of players at a gala night in Hobart on September 29, where up to eight under-17 prospects will be signed as inaugural Devils.
