Ken Hinkley is only days into his job as Tasmania coach but has already copped a blow with North Melbourne’s Finn O’Sullivan knocking back a monster offer.

AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey reported on Nine’s Footy Classified that O’Sullivan will re-sign with the Kangaroos for two years despite a $15 million eight-year offer from the Devils.

Finn O’Sullivan. Getty

The 20-year-old is only 36 matches into his career after being selected at pick two in the 2024 draft.

“He hasn’t been interested in it (the Tasmania deal) and hasn’t even been interested in meeting with the Devils,” Twomey said of O’Sullivan.

Tigers young gun and 2024 No.1 pick Sam Lalor was reportedly offered a similar deal.

The Devils will enter the AFL in 2028 with players able to commit but not officially sign until their current contracts are over.

Melbourne Demons coach Steven King was on Footy Classified and admitted despite O’Sullivan’s decision, the industry is prepared for raids from the new franchise.

“From a list point of view we’re looking strategically at locking away young talent,” he said.

“We’re ensuring even in this draft, the last of the uncompromised drafts, that we have a few picks in there as well.

“I think we’re all resigned to the fact of losing one or two good people, whether that’s a player or staff, to Tassie, and unfortunately we probably won’t be able to compete financially with some of the offers that will get thrown around.”

The offer to O’Sullivan continues a trend of long-term big-money contracts being thrown around to players in the AFL and King predicts there’ll be more “eye-watering” deals in the future.

“I think as a senior coach when you hear some of the offers young men are getting to play this game, it’s a credit to them and the industry we work in with how good they are and the product we produce,” he said.

“There’s certainly going to be a lot of eye-watering offers out there, that’s for sure.”

Melbourne coach Steven King during a quarter break of the Demons’ clash with the Crows in Adelaide. AFL Photos

It was also revealed on Footy Classified that Nigel Lappin is on the radar for the Devils in an assistant coach role.

Lappin and King previously worked together at Geelong, and the latter was full of praise for the in-demand assistant.

“He’s a genuine person, teaches the game really well and I think he’s experienced every role in footy around coaching and development. He comes from a very good environment and has links with Kenny,” he said.

“And he may or may not have a place down in Tassie he frequents a bit.”