In early 2024, on a historic day for the Australian Football League (AFL) and AFL Women’s (AFLW) League, the State of Tasmania revealed the name, logo and colours of its first ever national league team – the Devils. But for the nineteenth club to enter the league and the first since 2010, there was still one thing missing – a home. The Devils don’t have too much longer to wait with Populous designing a new AU$115 million AFL High Performance Centre and Training Facility at the Kingston Twin Ovals as part of the new Kingborough Sports Precinct.

Added to the municipality’s two pre-existing ovals will be two more ovals, a gym, aquatic centee, recovery areas, indoor club and administrative facilities – forming a central hub for the women’s, men’s and junior Tasmania Devils AFL teams. 

The center will include equitable facilities for men and women, in a state-of-the-art facility that will be a key ingredient in attracting, building and retaining AFL talent and delivering the level of performance that will be required for the Devils to be successful. 

Designed to serve elite athletes and the wider community, the facility will be accessible to local clubs, youth programs, and community groups. It will provide shared training resources and event spaces, fostering the development of Tasmanian sport and fitness for all. 

The centre will meet the AFL’s high-performance standards, offering a professional environment for athlete rehabilitation and development, ensuring Tasmanian players can train locally at the highest level.  

“This is a foundational step towards establishing Tasmania’s first dedicated AFL and AFLW teams.  This facility will support elite player development, enabling Tasmanian athletes to compete at the highest levels while inspiring future generations,” said  Nick Duigan, Tasmanian Minister for Sports and Events.

Reflecting Tasmania’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the development at Kingborough will prioritize energy-efficient technologies and minimize ecological impacts.  

The AFL High Performance Centre supports the AFL and the Tasmania Devils’ mission to grow football participation, strengthen grassroots initiatives, and attract premier sporting events to Tasmania, advancing AFL in the State and fostering a vibrant football culture for fans and players alike.