The Tasmania Devils have toasted a dream VFL debut after toppling Coburg by 17 points in front of a heaving sold-out suburban home crowd.
In the club's first on-field test ahead of entry into the AFL in 2028, the Devils led at every change for a 14.12 (96) to 11.13 (79) result at North Hobart Oval on Saturday.
Tasmania have framed the next two seasons in the second-tier Victorian competition as crucial in their build towards the top league.
Vice-captain Jye Menzie, who led the side in the absence of injured captain Robbie Fox, said the result was huge for the state.
Menzie, who notched 47 games for Essendon, played his junior footy at North Hobart Oval.
"One of the proudest moments of my life," he said.
"To do it in front of my family and friends and to be able to lead the Tasmanian team is definitely something I dreamed about. I didn't think it was going to come true but it has."
Young West Australian Jed Hagan and former Fremantle and West Coast player Hugh Dixon both kicked four goals in the round-one clash.
Local favourite and veteran Sam Siggins and former North Melbourne rookie Geordie Payne each booted two.
Siggins, who once spent time on the Adelaide Crows' roster and signed from Hobart club Lauderdale, had the honour of slotting the Devils' first goal in the 13th minute.
He was fed by Hagan before nailing the set shot from about 30m out.
Tasmania were up 74-59 at three-quarter time, then racked up the first three goals of the final term, before Coburg rallied.
But the Devils held on in front of a sold-out 10,634-strong crowd.
"That's something I'll never forget. The boys are over the moon," said Hagan, a former All-Australian at under-18 level who also picked up 17 disposals.
"There's been a bit of a build-up. It was a pretty special day."
The club passed a huge hurdle in December when state parliament approved construction of a new $1.13 billion stadium, a condition of the club's AFL licence.
Tasmania were part of the VFL from 2001-08, but this was their maiden outing as the Devils franchise.
They ran out through a banner with the words "Back in the VFL. It's been a long wait, the comp hasn't been good since 2008."
Coburg won on the stats sheet, with 365 disposals to Tasmania's 284 and an inside-50 count of 61-54, but not the numbers that mattered.
The Devils opened up a 27-22 lead at quarter-time on the back of a running goal from defender Brandon Leary on the siren.
Tasmania went on a run of four majors either side of the first term to open up a 23-point lead.
But Coburg, who finished mid-table in the VFL in 2025, came to life with three in a row of their own to trail 52-51 at the main break.
The Devils scrambled strongly in the third, crucially keeping Coburg to just one goal for the term.
