Tasmanian teenager Hugh McCallum has become the first player from the state to sign with the Tasmania Football Club in the AFL, headlining the Devils’ first-ever signings at a draft style event in Hobart tonight.
The club confirmed eight young footballers as its first players.
McCallum hurt his knee during the 2026 season.
He will skip the 2026 AFL Draft and join the Devils program in 2027.
“I guess growing up, you know, you have to go to the mainland and play AFL, but yeah, with all this belief to be I’m grateful for that, so thank you,” McCallum said.
He said his recovery from an ACL injury was tracking well, with around four months left to go.
“The support around me has been awesome and I think there’s no better place to be around than Tassie, so with the people I’ve known, life’s so good,” he said.
Under list concessions granted by the AFL, the Devils can pre-list up to 12 potential draft picks over the next two seasons.
The first group was picked by the club’s list management, recruiting and coaching team.
The pre-listed under-17 players are Western Australian Axel Walsh, along with Victorians Jake Miller, Angus Brown, Riley Stratford, Baxter Sruk, Griffin Barker and Nate Jenkins.
Each player was watched at National Championships, school and local matches before being measured against others in their age group.
Devils head coach Ken Hinkley will work with head of development Nigel Lappin and head of academy Matthew Knights to prepare the group for 2028.
The club said Hinkley “spoke glowingly of the talent joining his first AFL squad”.
All pre-listed players will move to Tasmania later in November.
They will start preparing for round one in 2028 with individual training programs and plans through 2027.
McCallum said he was excited about what the group could build together.
“Looking forward to it with these boys, the 17s, coming in to be a part of you boys,” he said.
“It’s going to be awesome and I can’t wait to see what we build, especially Kenny.”
