Jeromey Webberley will coach the Tasmania Devils’ VFL side again in 2027 after leading the club to a top-four finish and a finals campaign in its first season.
The Tasmania Football Club today confirmed Webberley would continue in the role next season.
The Devils finished fourth with 11 wins, six losses and a draw.
Many had predicted a tough first year and the team had a short lead-in to the competition and a squad spread across the state’s three regions.
Their season ended in straight sets in September. Geelong beat them by 23 points in a qualifying final and Essendon won 15.11 (101) to 10.14 (74) in a semi-final in front of 8,012 fans at North Hobart Oval.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my first year of coaching at the VFL level and had a great group of players who bought into what we are trying to build as a club,” Webberley said.
“We are not satisfied with what we were able to achieve in 2026 and although it was a great return for our first year back in the competition, we hope to improve on what was a good first season.”
A Tasmanian team last played in the VFL in 2008. That year AFL Tasmania withdrew the original Tasmanian Devils after eight seasons in the competition.
The former Richmond player previously coached Clarence in the Tasmanian State League and led the Devils’ under-18 pathways side.
Next season he will also support AFL head coach Ken Hinkley, head of development Nigel Lappin and head of academy Matthew Knights, with AFL-listed Devils players set to join the VFL program in 2027.
“I am enjoying what the broader club is building and look forward to spending more time with some of the experienced football people that will be joining us next season and beyond,” Webberley said.
Devils head of operations Aaron Pidgeon praised Webberley for building a connected team in a short time.
“The way the team played and the way the players connected with each other and our fans, speaks to the environment he created,” he said.
“We’re delighted he’ll continue leading the VFL program as it grows.”
Webberley and the VFL squad will return for pre-season later this year, as the club builds towards its AFL and AFLW debuts in 2028.
The club said VFL player signings and re-signings would be announced over the coming weeks.
