AFL player agents from across Australia have left the state impressed by both the incoming football facilities and the lifestyle offered to their superstar football clients after a tour this week.
The Tasmania Devils hosted managers from the men’s and women’s competitions this week, showcasing plans for future training and match infrastructure.
The tours also focused on the lifestyle opportunities on offer, from shorter commutes to tight-knit communities and access to Tasmania’s natural assets, as the club ramps up its player recruitment ahead of its AFL entry.
“We felt it was a great opportunity before the actual season started to give them a better understanding of where our business sits and how we’re building the club,” former Collingwood list manager and current head recruiter of the Devils Derek Hine told Pulse.
The tour included visits to the High Performance Centre construction site in Kingston and the Macquarie Point stadium location, as well as visits to local wineries and a golf course.
“They’ve gone away with a really clear understanding of the Devils and what they could do for potentially their clients,” Hine said.
Hosting the player agents was a way to directly address mainland concerns about attracting players to Hobart and retaining young players in Hobart.
“We haven’t had any pushback from any player group or management group we’ve approached,” Hine said.
“The feedback has been totally positive.”
“The management groups were taken aback with the opportunity that Hobart and Tasmania presents,” Hine said.
He said agents praised the roofed stadium design and were given detailed timelines for construction milestones.
Hine hopes the hands-on experience will shift agent recommendations from cautious consideration to active encouragement when opportunities arise for their clients.
He said the new VFL squad members from interstate, including Perth recruits Jaxon Artemis and Jed Hagen, have “assimilated into Hobart exceptionally well”.
The VFL season begins next month as the club continues building toward its AFL debut.
