Former Port Adelaide tall Xavier Walsh has signed a one-year deal with the Tasmania Devils, joining his younger brother Axel at the club for 2027.
Walsh spent three seasons with the Power but was unable to break into their AFL side, kicking 28 goals across 36 SANFL games at Alberton.
His most successful year came this season, when he kicked 23 goals from 16 games playing mostly as a forward.
Port Adelaide took the East Perth product with pick 13 in the 2023 AFL Rookie Draft, after he represented Western Australia at under-16 and under-18 level.
The Devils described Walsh as “a powerful and versatile tall” with “a strong aerial presence, contested marking ability and a willingness to attack the ball and create contests”.
The move reunites him with Devils head coach Ken Hinkley, who coached him at Port Adelaide.
It also puts him alongside under-17 star Axel, who was unveiled among the club’s inaugural player signings in September.
Last week the club unveiled former Geelong midfielder George Stevens and former West Coast player Jack Williams, making Walsh the third former AFL-listed player to join Tasmania.
Stevens shared this year’s J.J. Liston Trophy as the VFL’s best and fairest player, while Williams played 54 games and kicked 46 goals across five seasons with the Eagles.
The Devils debuted in the VFL this year and are building their list for a second season in the competition before entering the AFL in 2028.
Under the Golden Ticket initiative, Tasmania can sign up to four of its own VFL-listed players to its 2028 AFL list.
