Delisted Geelong midfielder George Stevens has signed with the Tasmania Devils for 2027, and has reportedly committed to joining the club’s inaugural AFL list in 2028.
Tasmania announced the signing on Tuesday, securing the reigning J.J. Liston Trophy winner for the Devils’ second VFL season. The Standard reported it is a one-year deal.
Channel 7 and SEN’s Tom Morris reported that Stevens has also committed to the Devils beyond 2027. “Former Cat George Stevens will play for the Tasmania AFL club in 2028,” Morris said, via SEN. “He’s committing beyond the VFL in 2027 and will formally put pen to paper when the rules allow down the track.”
That makes the 21-year-old the first known active AFL player to lock in a spot on Tasmania’s first top-level list, 7NEWS reported.
Liston Trophy season
Stevens averaged 30 disposals and kicked 13 goals across 16 home-and-away games for Geelong’s VFL side in 2026. He made the VFL Team of the Year, shared the J.J. Liston Trophy as the competition’s best and fairest, and won Geelong’s VFL best and fairest.
Read more: Tasmania Devils Develop Bold Trade Plan To Build Experienced AFL List
Originally from South Warrnambool, he was taken by the Cats with pick 58 in the 2023 national draft. He debuted against Richmond in Round 17, 2025, and played four AFL games before Geelong delisted him at the end of this season, AFL.com.au reported.
Geelong’s VFL side beat Tasmania in a qualifying final in August.
Familiar face at the Devils
Stevens links up with Nigel Lappin, the long-time Geelong development coach who joined Tasmania after Ken Hinkley was appointed the club’s inaugural AFL senior coach.
Tasmania announced the signing on the same day it parted ways with inaugural VFL captain Robbie Fox.
Read more: Tasmania Devils Part Ways With Inaugural VFL Captain Robbie Fox
Who else is on the list?
Stevens joins eight teenagers already pre-listed for the 2028 AFL debut: Tasmanian Hugh McCallum, Western Australia’s Axel Walsh, and Victorians Jake Miller, Angus Brown, Riley Stratford, Baxter Sruk, Griffin Barker and Nate Jenkins.
7NEWS reported the group will move to Tasmania next month.
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