On-song Tasmania Devils eager for second rendition

The Tasmania Devils are itching for a second crack at singing their team song.

The club, which will enter the AFL in 2028, tasted success on Saturday in their maiden VFL outing.in front of a 10,634-strong sold-out North Hobart Oval crowd.

Tasmania's two years in the Victorian second-tier competition are viewed by the club's hierarchy as crucial in their build towards the top league.

A temporary club song to the tune of Road to Gundagai was unveiled after the game.

"You may have noticed we probably might not have had as much time to practise as what we'd like," head of football operations Aaron Pidgeon said.

"The guys muddled their way through. We'd like to have a second crack at it next round."

The Devils play Port Melbourne in round two of the VFL on Saturday at University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston, their home in the state's north.

Pidgeon said the club was hoping for a big crowd, but the ground's capacity was still being sorted out because of redevelopments.

Tasmania, which played in the VFL in 2001-08 and made one preliminary final, has long fought for inclusion in the national competition.

Three years after the state was awarded a provisional licence, North Hobart Oval was a sea of Devils jumpers, shirts, hats, flags and colours on Saturday.

"It's a long season, we don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves," Pidgeon said.

"I was pleasantly surprised about how we handled the moment. There are some young guys in the team who haven't experienced anything like that.

"Some of the more experienced ones suggested that was one of the biggest crowds they had played in front of."

West Australian product Jed Hagan was best on ground with four goals, while young former North Melbourne player Geordie Payne was among other multiple goal-scorers.

Tasmanian junior Nick Williams, who left the state as a teenager and signed from Queensland side Southport, said the win proved the Devils could compete at VFL level.

"It was amazing running out. Even going into it, I didn't expect anything like that," he said.

"If you look at the stats they pretty much beat us in everything, but we played a tough Tassie brand of footy."

The club will keep an AFL team song on ice until its debut, but Pidgeon said the current tune could potentially be in the mix.