The AFL Commission has approved the list build concessions for the Tasmania Devils Football Club (TDFC) ahead of their entry into the Toyota AFL Premiership.
The concessions are as follows:
- Flexible List Size
A flexible list size over their first five AFL seasons, allowing up to 48 players on the list maximum for years 2, 3 and 4 before transitioning back to industry levels by year 6.
- Access to Existing AFL Talent
The ability to sign up to 18 out-of-contract AFL players across a 2-year window (covering the years immediately prior to TDFC entry year and TDFC entry year), with a maximum of one (1) player per Club in total.
- Signing Bonus
Access to a signing bonus pool of $5,000,000 outside of the AFL Salary Cap, to be utilised over TDFC’s first two years (maximum spend of $3,000,000 in either year).
- Expansion Compensation Model
A bespoke compensation model designed to compensate the existing 18 clubs for any loss of talent, with that compensation provided in the form of one or more ‘floating’ draft selections whereby the recipient Club may determine what year the selections fall in.
- Tasmanian Academy
The provision of a Tasmanian Academy consistent with the Northern Academy model, with the ability to pre-list eligible Academy players for the first four (4) years before that access is reviewed prior to a transition to bidding system access.
- Tasmanian Talent Access
Access to pre-list Tasmanian pathway players from two years prior to TDFC entry year in the AFL competition (i.e., players that are eligible to be drafted and play in the AFL in the year prior to TDFC entry year), with these players to participate in State League in the year prior to TDFC entry year. Ability to access players as Father-Son eligible where their father was born in Tasmania and played at least 100 AFL matches.
- 17-year-old Talent
The ability to pre-list players in their 17th year, spread across two years (year prior to the inaugural list build year = players eligible to play in TDFC entry year in AFL competition, and year of inaugural list build year = players eligible to play in TDFC second year in AFL competition).
- 17-year-old Mini-Draft
The provision of two (2) draft selections for two (2) Mini-Drafts of 17-year-old players (i.e, four selections in total – two each in years immediately prior to TDFC entry year and TDFC entry year), with the requirement for those picks to be traded. Players selected in the mini draft will not be eligible for AFL selection in the year immediately following the relevant mini draft.
- Draft Capital
The provision of the following draft selections over three National Drafts:
- in TDFC’s first National Draft ahead of their entry year, selections 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and the first selection of each subsequent round (noting that selections 5, 7, 11 and 13 must be traded but may be rolled forward for up to two National Drafts);
- in TDFC’s second National Draft, selections 5 and 9 and the first selection in each subsequent round in addition to their natural draft hand (noting that selection 5 must be traded but may be rolled forward to the next National Draft); and
- in TDFC’s third National Draft, selections 5 and 9 in addition to their natural draft hand (noting that selection 5 must be traded).
- Previously Nominated Players
Access to directly pre-list players who have previously nominated for the National Draft but have not been selected or are not currently listed for the purposes of retention or trade.
- Second Tier Assistance
Additional capacity to support their second-tier program.
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Proposed changes to the AFL National Draft
Additionally, the AFL Commission also committed to amending the AFL National Draft bidding system for the 2026 AFL National Draft.
Any changes will take into account a thorough review of the 2025 AFL National Draft and will be formally communicated to clubs following the 2025 AFL National Draft.
Clubs have been notified that that the changes will consider:
- a cap on the number of draft selections that can be used to match a bid;
- the DVI points value required to match a bid (including the removal of discounts or application of loading); and
- the allowable DVI deficit.
A review of the current model for provision of special assistance will also be conducted in conjunction with the AFL National Draft bidding system.
The list concession mechanisms provided to the Tasmania Devils Football Club will be subject to review and change should there be material change to the AFL National Draft System.
