Tasmania Devils sign George Stevens as first AFL player ahead of 2028 debut

Tasmania have signed their first current AFL player ahead of the expansion club’s arrival in 2028.

Delisted Geelong midfielder George Stevens will head to the Devils for the 2027 VFL season.

But he has also committed to signing for the AFL team once that window opens, reports Channel 7’s Tom Morris.

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Stevens is the first known active AFL player to lock in a spot on Tassie’s inaugural top-level list, though he was primarily stuck in the VFL at the Cats.

He played just two AFL games in each of the past two years for Geelong but was a joint winner of the VFL’s JJ Liston Trophy.

The 21-year-old averaged 30 disposals a game and kicked 13 goals for the Cats’ reserves, who beat the Devils in a qualifying final this year.

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In a show of support for his future, Stevens joins Tasmania with the backing of long-time Geelong development coach turned Devils recruit Nigel Lappin.

Lappin was announced as Tasmania’s latest key recruit soon after the appointment of inaugural AFL senior coach Ken Hinkley.

Stevens’ arrival took on added importance on Tuesday when it emerged Tassie had sacked inaugural VFL captain Robbie Fox after an off-field incident.

Fox was a key recruit for the Devils’ first VFL side this year, having brought 105 games of AFL experience to the club.

Stevens, meanwhile, joins eight pre-listed teenagers on Tasmania’s books ahead of their 2028 debut.

Local prospect Hugh McCallum joined the Devils alongside Western Australia’s Axel Walsh and Victorians Jake Miller, Angus Brown, Riley Stratford, Baxter Sruk, Griffin Barker and Nate Jenkins.

The group will move to Tasmania next month.