Tasmania Devils Dare to Dream After Miraculous Inaugural VFL Season

The Tasmania Devils' journey to the VFL finals in their first year is being hailed as a "minor miracle," a sentiment even echoed by the team's own leadership. "Anybody that says we'd be playing finals in our first year is kidding themselves," admitted Devils VFL boss Aaron Pidgeon, acknowledging the sheer unlikelihood of their success.

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Anybody that says we'd be playing finals in our first year is kidding themselves.

Just twelve months prior, the Devils were a concept without players, a playing jumper, or even a roster. Convincing footballers to relocate to Tasmania and commit to the new team proved a significant challenge. Adding to the uncertainty, the AFL had initially expressed reservations about Tasmania entering a VFL team, citing concerns about competitiveness and the club's financial viability, which required an estimated $2 million per season.

A pivotal moment came with the decision to pivot from a part-time entry to a full-time, fully invested team. "If we did it, it couldn't be a half-assed exercise," Pidgeon stated, emphasizing the commitment required. This decision, along with a grueling pre-season camp on Tasmania's remote west coast at Queenstown, known for its infamous gravel oval, forged a strong team spirit. Midfielder Harry Elmer described the camp as the "hardest pre-season I've been a part of," noting the increased speed and strength of the players.

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If we did it, it couldn't be a half-assed exercise. We had to be full-time and fully invested.

The team's round one victory over Coburg, witnessed by over 10,000 spectators, was so unexpected that players struggled to sing the club song, having only finalized it the night before. While competitive by round five, a 25-point loss to Carlton spurred a renewed focus on discipline and defense. This led to a strong finish, with seven wins and three losses in their final 10 games, securing their spot in the VFL top four and setting up a qualifying final against Geelong.

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It was a lot faster. Everyone was stronger. It was the hardest pre-season I've been a part of.