AFL

Tasmania receive war chest for AFLW list build

By Anna Harrington

Sep 10, 2026

The Tasmania Devils have been given the list-boosting rules for their 2028 AFLW entry. -AAP Image

Tasmania will be handed a signing bonus pool to attract top AFLW players from other clubs along with high draft picks and first dibs on local players.

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The Devils will enter the women's competition from 2028, the same year as the AFL team.

It is the first change to the AFLW since the competition was expanded to the current full complement of 18 teams.

Tasmania have been given a war chest, equivalent to 33 per cent of their 2028 salary cap, to go out and sign established talent - including contracted players.

Each existing club will have a cap on the number of players they can lose to Tasmania and can "protect" a specified number of contracted players.

The number of players a club can lose and protect will be determined under a performance-based framework, with compensation potentially provided.

In 2027, Tasmania will receive draft priority selections No.1, 5, 9, 14 and 23, plus the first selection in every subsequent round.

In 2028, Tasmania will receive priority selections No. 4 and No.8, though these will be subject to AFL review.

Players will be eligible as father-daughter selections if their father was born in Tasmania and played a minimum of 100 AFL matches, or at least 200 senior men's Tasmanian State League matches.

From 2028 to 2031, the Devils can pre-select Tasmania-based players from their academy ahead of the draft.

The Devils can also snap up any undrafted or delisted player not already on a list, and have two additional list spots in 2029 and 2030.

"Tasmania's entry into the AFLW competition will be a significant moment for women's football, and it is important we provide the club with the best opportunity to build a strong foundation and create opportunities for local Tasmanian talent," AFLW boss Laura Kane said in a statement.

"Through extensive consultation with key stakeholders, including Tasmania, our existing AFLW clubs and the AFLW competition committee, we have developed these list establishment rules to support the club's entry while balancing the impact on the wider competition.

"This is another important step towards welcoming Tasmania into the AFLW competition, and I thank all clubs and stakeholders for their collaboration throughout the process."