Devils Target Pies Midfielder as Tassie Eyes $7m Offer and Three-Team Race for Free Agent Heats Up

Tasmania is preparing a multi-million dollar bid for a Collingwood midfielder, with reports indicating the club is targeting a player through a list management loophole rather than pursuing contracted stars.

The Hobart-based club, newly admitted to the Australian Football League, is reportedly willing to offer a package worth up to $7 million over several years to secure the services of a young Pie, according to reports from Fox Sports published on April 21, 2026.

Tasmania’s strategy focuses on exploiting a loophole in the AFL’s list management rules that allows them to target players who are out of contract or becoming free agents, avoiding direct competition for currently contracted stars.

This approach was confirmed by Tasmania’s football department, which stated they would not pursue players like Nick Daicos or Darcy Cameron, who remain under contract at Collingwood, choosing instead to focus on athletes whose contracts are expiring or who have already entered free agency.

The pursuit comes amid a broader market where multiple clubs are showing interest in available talent. A Melbourne-based free agent is also reported to be attracting attention from two interstate clubs, intensifying the competition for his signature as the off-season period progresses.

While Tasmania has not publicly named its primary target, the club’s interest in a Collingwood midfielder has been linked to ongoing discussions about list construction and salary cap management ahead of the upcoming season.

The club’s willingness to invest significantly reflects its ambition to establish a competitive presence quickly in the AFL, leveraging its recent entry into the league to build a roster through strategic acquisitions rather than relying solely on draft picks or developmental pathways.

Other clubs are also active in the free agent market, with Adelaide-based teams reportedly showing interest in the same Melbourne player, creating a three-way race for his signature that underscores the competitive nature of player movement in the league’s current landscape.

As of April 21, 2026, no formal offers have been confirmed, and all discussions remain at the exploratory stage, with clubs evaluating options ahead of the official trade and free agency period.