Collingwood and Adelaide are among several interested clubs considering mature-age Tasmanian talent Brandon Leary ahead of the AFL draft, four years after he first bobbed up on the radar.

Leary, 23, has starred in Tasmania’s maiden VFL campaign as a dynamic forward-mid and shapes as the Devils’ leading national draft chance.

The Pies and Crows are his main suitors, but it is understood multiple other clubs have shown interest in the high-flying Devil, who has averaged 18 disposals, six score involvements and kicked 16 goals across 19 VFL matches.

Leary would also be strongly considered by Tasmania for an AFL list spot when the Devils enter the competition in 2028 if he opts to wait another year.

He trained with Hawthorn ahead of the 2023 season in pursuit of a rookie spot after he was overlooked in the 2022 drafts despite a promising over-age campaign for the Tasmania Devils.

Then a lightly-framed 177 centimetre small forward, Leary slotted the second-most goals in the Talent League in 2022 behind eventual No.1 pick Aaron Cadman.

Leary went on to dominate for North Launceston for the next three years, including 58 goals in 15 matches last season, before he earned a VFL chance with Tasmania.

Initially wanting to challenge himself at the best level possible, Leary is excited to be attracting AFL interest and believes he is in a much stronger position than he was back in 2022.

“It’s good to get interest, and it means you’re doing some good things,” Leary told this masthead.

“It is really exciting, and hopefully that that pans out for me. But it might not at the same time.

“This VFL program is exactly for people like me who played local footy for numerous years and never really got much of an opportunity. This side coming in has sort of allowed blokes like myself to get an opportunity and show some of our weapons and what we’re good at/

“My last couple of years of footy I’ve really challenged myself and built my body a little bit more and try to really work on my game. That’s been the main area.

“And if something comes from doing stuff like that, then that’s just a by-product of it.”

Leary has also improved his professionalism with his Devils and North Launceston teammate Brad Cox-Goodyer playing an important role.

“If I’m honest, (what’s changed is) just putting more time and effort into my body and how I prepare,” Leary said.

“And then even coming into this program, doing all the right things and just following the programs that they give us and making sure I’m in the gym or I’m recovering the right way, doing an extra session, or not going out drinking and stuff like that.

“It sounds silly, but just all the little stuff goes into that, and I think that’s the main thing that I’ve probably improved on.

“Brad Cox-Goodyer, I’ve been around him a long time up at North Launceston, and he’s been really good, just showing me professionalism and what I should be doing, and making sure I’m doing the right things.

“So he’s been really good for me. But then it’s probably more of just you get a little bit older and you realise what’s important and what you should be doing.”

Leary has been focused on Tasmania’s maiden VFL finals campaign, coming up against Essendon in North Hobart on Saturday morning, but his mind has occasionally wandered.

“Obviously sometimes you do think about it, but at the same time, once you get out there and you start playing, you’re there kicking the footy around at the end of the day,” Leary said.

“I just love going out there and competing and going against the opposition. That’s the main thing for me, and then whatever comes from it, comes from it.”