![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774536677_785_1ecd3a876adb7de8d96940cb7ea548dcc28f9be6.png\")
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to characterise the Tasmania list build as a trout-fishing expedition at Little Pine Lagoon with sign-on bonuses and hefty contracts acting as a lure to entice the biggest names in the game.<\/p>\n Ken Hinkley didn\u2019t shy away from the theatre of it all on his first day as Devils coach on Monday, but the Devils\u2019 football department and list management have been doing mountains of work in the background for 18 months to prepare a strategy more nuanced than just chasing the biggest names.<\/p>\n The $1 million-per-year offer to Collingwood\u2019s Beau McCreery<\/a>, and speculation around the Devils pursuing Fremantle captain Alex Pearce and Richmond\u2019s Rhyan Mansell (who are both Tasmanian), or landing pipedream acquisitions such as the Magpies\u2019 Nick Daicos<\/a>, the Giants\u2019 Tom Green or Port Adelaide\u2019s Zak Butters keeps the chatter alive.<\/p>\n But the Devils\u2019 real work will be focused on taking a tiered approach to develop a balanced list that sets the club up for the long term, rather than the short term, according to two competition sources who wanted to remain anonymous when discussing list-management matters.<\/p>\n Editor’s pick That\u2019s because the Tasmanians are excited about the standard of the two 17-year-old talent pools they will fish in. These were showcased at the recent under-16 and under-18 national championships.<\/p>\n They can pre-select 12 players, with Axel Walsh, Jake Miller, Eamon Hyde and Max Thompson among the players who impressed in the past month\u2019s representative games over two seasons with a maximum of eight 17-year-olds per season.<\/p>\n They will also have picks No.1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 ahead of the 2027 national draft, with No.5, 7, 11 and 13 to either be traded or rolled over.<\/p>\n As likely as the big stars to be targeted by the Devils are players who will be in their 30s, or approaching them, when 2028 arrives \u2013 such as Richmond\u2019s Jayden Short, Collingwood\u2019s Lachie Schultz, Geelong\u2019s Tom Stewart, Gold Coast\u2019s Touk Miller, St Kilda\u2019s Jack Sinclair, Sydney\u2019s Tom McCartin, and the Western Bulldogs\u2019 Bailey Williams, who all come out of contract at the end of 2027.<\/p>\n A collection of players with their experience can weather the storm while the young talent find their feet at senior level and keep perspective on results, in much the same manner as the Giants employed four players above 30 in James McDonald, Dean Brogan, Chad Cornes and Luke Power for their opening season.<\/p>\n The last thing the Devils want to happen when their crop of young talent is ready to compete consistently \u2013 as the Giants did in 2016, five seasons after their first match \u2013 is for players in the middle of their careers to be in the way, suddenly stuck in the VFL side.<\/p>\n Related Article The Giants also added four marquee signings 23 years and under in Rhys Palmer, Callan Ward, Phil Davis and Tom Scully, with the Devils certain to enquire about young stars such as the Lions\u2019 Logan Morris, Richmond\u2019s Sam Lalor and North Melbourne\u2019s Finn O\u2019Sullivan, who come out of contract at the end of 2027.<\/p>\n Devils list manager Todd Patterson said as much in February when he hosted player agents in Tasmania, declaring players from the first round in the 2024 national draft as targets.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t be fooled into thinking a spot on the Tassie list is only reserved for megastars. Experienced players who can fill a need are being chased just as hard.<\/p>\n If Lewis stays at the Hawks, where do the Pies look?<\/p>\n Mitch Lewis\u2019 five-goal haul against Richmond has renewed focus on his free-agency status, but positive negotiations continue to give the Hawks hope they can retain the 27-year-old who has played 18 games this season.<\/p>\n The direction of those discussions has industry sources expecting Collingwood to now pivot their interest towards Giants key forward Jesse Hogan, who is out of contract at season\u2019s end.<\/p>\n The 31-year-old Hogan has battled injury this season, but his decision could determine the future of Max Gruzewski, who has been in discussions with the Giants since he suffered a knee injury against Hawthorn.<\/p>\n The Suns are waiting in the wings for Ben King to tell them whether he is staying or going, with all signs now suggesting he departs for the Hawks, who will have a glut of tall forwards including Mabior Chol, Jack Gunston, Calsher Dear and Aiden Schubert all suited to a spot inside 50.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Negotiations on deals are expected to be difficult this season as clubs will be unwilling to give up a top-five pick, and the value of future picks will be diluted because of Tasmania\u2019s entry.<\/p>\n The Magpie kicking late-career goals <\/p>\n Tim Membrey has been in season-best form, the forward booting 13 goals through the Magpies\u2019 five-game winning streak heading into Thursday\u2019s clash with the Crows. This includes three goals against Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Carlton and a vital goal late in the game against North Melbourne.<\/p>\n The two-year contract that Membrey signed after leaving St Kilda as a delisted free agent expires at the end of the season, with Magpies coach Craig McRae declaring he expected the 32-year-old to return next year.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t do contracts \u2026 but certainly his form would warrant that,\u201d McRae said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s playing as good as he can right now for us. And there\u2019s a lot of love for Tim downstairs [in the change room].\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, West Coast ruckman Bailey Williams has signed a six-year deal to stay with the Eagles.<\/p>\n Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f69703856a216b01d19094f1282332d981bcccfb.jpeg\")
Photo: Artists<\/p>\n![\"Geelong](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dcd2af5c8a33036253df885e279064a41607817c.jpeg\")
Geelong star Tom Stewart is the type of player who could appeal to the Devils. AFL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Gold](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784665034_435_c8f9e0d9b3bfec42b54cedaa738449fb25b7f6c1.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Ken](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784665035_575_cd52114510888b54ad8351c5e7db51f0930ce64a.jpeg\")
Ken Hinkley on his first day as Tasmania Devils coach.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Experienced](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/32f8cc7cc5a8892d01bd400efb1462f5d9114a6d.jpeg\")
Experienced players who can fill a short-term need will be part of the Devils\u2019 list. Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Love](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/a2e0d12ac68b510fc8a64a1e7f764f4d2c89cb10.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Mitch](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fa1b5cf166e6fd410ac157e82ec784190f24b226.jpeg\")
Mitch Lewis has kicked 30 goals for the Hawks as part of a stacked forward line.AFL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Tim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/6688fe9fd3849dd6e6b52051102168f9b9fe0cd7.jpeg\")
Tim Membrey has kicked at least two goals in each of the past five matches. AFL Photos<\/p>\n