Tasmania Devils’ new head of development Nigel Lappin says the AFL’s newest club has a chance to “unite a whole state” as he starts work with its first group of young players.
The three-time Brisbane premiership player joined the Devils after more than 18 years at Geelong where he established himself as one of the competition’s most respected player development coaches.
He was appointed the Devil’s inaugural head of development in August.
“It’s huge not only for the opportunity that I’ve got in my role to develop the young talent that’s come in but just to mobilise a whole state and unite a whole state,” he said.
“Obviously pretty tough economic times at the moment but to have a footy team to get really excited about every weekend, to go and watch and give them purpose, that definitely excites me.”
Lappin said he had already met some of the club’s pre-listed players, including six based in Melbourne and Axel Walsh in Perth.
Under his program, the younger players will train with the club’s VFL squad on Monday nights, spend Wednesdays at what he called a “pro day” alongside Tasmanian players and train with the VFL group again on Fridays.
He said players would develop through several pathways, including the VFL program and, for some, returning interstate to play. He said the AFL had approved that option.
“What we do know about athletes is that they all mature at different rates,” he said.
Asked what he would say to players unsure about moving to Tasmania, Lappin said: “Definitely come across and experience it. And it won’t be for everybody, but it will be for some.”
Looking ahead to the club’s AFL debut in 2028, he said the Devils would be “trying to play an exciting brand of footy, but a brand of footy that is going to be sustainable long-term”.
Lappin’s first visit to Tasmania six years ago left such an impression that he eventually bought a shack on Bruny Island.
“So I come down for the first time six years ago and fell in love with it that much and the people, mind you, that we ended up buying a shack on Bruny,” he said.
“It’s a place that we can escape to and just be ourselves and be in nature and immerse ourselves in it.”
He will work in Hobart full-time until Christmas and his wife will join him after that.
