FOOTBALL department leadership and not a senior coach is top of the tree for the Tasmania Devils after the club's licence was green-lit by a "yes" stadium vote.
The 23,000-seat Macquarie Point stadium in Hobart, a condition of the Devils entering the AFL and AFLW in 2028, was approved by state parliament on Thursday night.
"The overwhelming emotion is one of incredible responsibility," Devils CEO Brendon Gale said on Friday.
"We've got to deliver a football club. In footy and elite sport you don't get much time to reflect.
"In some respects the real work starts now."
The club, which will enter teams in the VFL and VFLW in 2026, has appointed several off-field coaches and recruiters, including gun former Collingwood scout Derek Hine.
Tasmania has been in discussions with Nathan Buckley for the head coaching gig.
The ex-Magpie is spending a year as an assistant at Geelong in what is seen as a stepping stone to the Devils.
Gale said talks would continue when it came to appointing a head coach.
"A senior coach probably isn't as urgent given the timeline. Key football department leadership is," he said.
"I've been amazed at the excitement of key football people … who see the opportunity to work with a blank canvas, albeit in a state that has 160 years of passion and history of football."
Devils chairman Grant O'Brien said several Tasmanian greats had been in touch, including Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Peter Hudson.
"I had a phone call from Peter Hudson yesterday who was emotional about (what) this club will do for the state," O'Brien said.
"He couldn't wait to share that excitement and he wants to be part of it. He wants to help."
Tasmania-born Brisbane coach Chris Fagan praised Gale and the club's board for their part in getting the stadium approved.
"How many times have we heard Tassie's going to get a team in the AFL, only for it to fall by the wayside," he told SEN radio.
"They've been able to have enough influence on the political side of things to get the stadium approved.
"It's a good thing for Tassie. Not a lot of stuff has been happening down there in the sporting world for a long time."
The stadium is slated to be completed by 2029, but Gale indicated the club was thinking it might not be ready until 2030.
