Tasmania has identified a potential target. Plus new Port coach Josh Carr has admitted to his first blunder and responded to a rival coach’s comments on Zak Butters. MORE IN AFL DAILY.

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Ross unfazed by Saints criticism | 02:42

TASSIE IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL TARGET

Tasmania has reportedly identified a player “in the mould of” Geelong star Tom Stewart as one of its inaugural signings.

But an AFL great has voiced concerns with the Devils’ ability to attract talent ahead of the 19th club’s entry into the AFL in 2028.

Tassie has most frequently been linked to Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos, with the Devils to be boosted by a $5 million sign-on bonus outside the salary cap to use over their first two seasons.

While Stewart will be 35 by the time Tassie enters the competition, Seven’s Mitch Cleary reports the Devils want to go down the GWS route and bring in a crop of veteran leaders to help set the culture.

“We’ve all heard about the Nick Daicos and the superstar approach. We’ll take you to the other end of the spectrum here … Tasmania has identified a player in the mould of Tom Stewart to come in and be the cultural setter to come in and set the scene,” Cleary said on Agenda Setters.

“They acknowledge, behind the scenes, that there are going to be players who arrive at their footy club who won’t be there for their first flag push.

“He’s a five-time All-Australian, he debuted as a 24-year-old, which means he’s missed out on five or six years of earning at the top level.

“Could he go down to Tasmania with a bigger salary cap and cash in?

“And it takes me back to what the Giants were doing at the start of their tenure. Have a look at some of these names that GWS brought in for their first year: James McDonnell at the age of 35, Dean Brogan, 33, Chad Cornes and Luke Power at 32.

“The Devils are going to want players in the mould of Tom Stewart to come in and set the tone early for their young group.”

Ross unfazed by Saints criticism | 02:42

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Appearing later on the program, Devils CEO Brendon Gale said the Stewart link was “news to me.”

It comes as the Tasmania’s new stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point has been delayed to 2031.

It means the club and its inaugural players will play home games at playing at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, along with Launceston’s York Park, before moving into the new venue in 2031.

Kangaroos legend David King has fears around the club’s ability to draw star-factor players.

“It’s going to be difficult to get players down there, it’s going to be tough,” King said on Fox Footy.

“If it’s just finance, maybe you might get a few, but are they necessarily the ones you want? That’s going to be the discussion.

“I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as some thought on sheer numbers, (compared to) 12-18 months ago. Let’s wait and see.”

‘He had 1 possession in the 2nd!’ | 00:52

CARR ADMITS TO FIRST BIG BLUNDER, RESPONDS TO BEVO’S BUTTERS COMMENTS

New Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr has admitted to the first big blunder of his tenure and responded to Luke Beveridge’s comments on Zak Butters.

It was a rough introduction to coaching for Carr in a bruising 46-point loss to North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

The Kangaroos are coming off six-straight bottom three finishes including just six wins over those years.

And Carr has conceded he underestimated North in the lead into the game.

“I spoke about it,” Carr told reporters on Thursday.

“And it started from me. It started from what I felt, in some ways, I may have led the players down that path.

“We talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition team.

“And in the end, in hindsight and reflection, you go: ‘Well, did we get it right, did we get it wrong?

“I look at myself and go: ‘I probably got a couple things wrong in the way I spoke to the players about North Melbourne and about what to expect’.

“I just thought I could have been better.”

‘He had 1 possession in the 2nd!’ | 00:52

Meanwhile, Carr said he wasn’t surprised by Beveridge’s remarks on Butters, where the Bulldogs coach suggested he’d been in contact with the superstar free agent.

Though Carr insisted Port was “doing everything we can” to retain Butters as multiple Victorian clubs circle.

“My reaction is Luke Beveridge wants a really good player to come to his football club and there’s not a team in Australia that wouldn’t have Zak,” he said.

“He’s out of contract at the end of the year and I’m sure there’s a lot of teams that would like to get their hands on him.

“He’s ours right now and we’re doing everything we can to keep Zak and more importantly I know how invested he is in our football club.”

HIGHLY-TOUTED 2027 DRAFT DUO NOMINATE PORT

Highly-rated prospects Zemes Pilot and Louis Salopek have nominated Port Adelaide for the 2027 draft after rebuffing interest from Tasmania.

AFL Media reports Pilot, a Next Generation Academy player, and Salopek, a father-son prospect as the son of ex-Port player Steven, have withdrawn from Tassie’s under-17 signings access pool.

The pair were both among 22 prospects Tassie listed as ‘players of interest’ as 17-year old talents and could’ve been signed this year if the players agreed.

But Pilot and Salopek, both considered early picks, have instead committed their pathway to the Power via next year’s draft in a key coup, provided the club can secure them with the updated bidding system.