Nick Riewoldt hits back hard at Tasmania AFL jumper critics

The passionate Tasmanian had some choice words for critics of the colours and jumper announced for the new AFL club.

The Tasmanian Devils, who will be the AFL’s 19th club when they enter the competition in 2029, launched their colours, logo and jumper at a packed event on Monday.

The colours of myrtle green, primrose yellow and rose red chosen for the strip have been used to represent the state team for over 100 years.

The jumper features a yellow map of Tasmania with a red T in the centre, while the logo is a dramatic side-on image of a Tasmanian devil’s head using the same colours.

On the day the club’s members hit an extraordinary 100,000, Riewoldt reacted to the club launch.

“I was an onlooker, like everyone, yesterday – without any insights into what the jumper was going to look like, or the logo, emblem was going to look like,” Riewoldt said on LiSTNR’s Footy Talk on Tuesday.

Nick Riewoldt and the Tassie AFL jumper. Photos: News Corp/Getty Images

“I thought it hit the mark absolutely perfectly. I think the logo, the devil, is awesome. I think it’s going to resonate with young fans of the game.

“It looks fierce. It’s obviously an iconic Tasmanian animal. So I think that’s all going to play really well.”

There was a very mixed reaction to the designs, with some deeming them “old fashioned” while others felt they had hit the mark.

Journalist Mark Robinson was underwhelmed when he reacted to the launch on AFL 360.

“I like the logo more than I like the jumper,” he said. “I thought it could’ve been a bit more dynamic, that’s all.

“I like tradition, I am a traditionalist in so many ways in football. I do like the traditional parts of our game, but a new club, I thought it could’ve been a bit more dynamic.

“But I love the logo. The eye of Tasmania and the tooth, I think the young folk will like that and there will be plenty of jackets and T-shirts sold.”

Riewoldt, who previously worked with Robinson at Fox Footy and has been a member of the Tasmanian AFL taskforce, responded strongly to that opinion.

“I’ve heard a little bit of criticism about the jumper which I just can’t wrap my head around to be honest, because it’s the traditional Tassie football jumper,” he said.

“I think Robbo was one in particular that said he wanted more, he wanted it to be more dynamic – it is the Tassie jumper.

“Does that mean we want Richmond to go out and be more dynamic with their jumper now moving forward? I mean, I thought it was ridiculous.”

Riewoldt added it was standard for AFL clubs to wear a traditional uniform.

“All of the traditional footy jumpers that have stood the test of time, they are that way for a reason and that’s the history associated with them, and the Tassie jumper is exactly the same,” he said.

“You can get dynamic when it comes time for retro round, or whatever, away strips or clash strips – that’s the time to be dynamic.

The traditional Richmond jumper. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“I thought the colour palette, the jumper, the logo, they were all 10/10 for me. So great job to the organising committee and everyone involved.

“It’s been embraced clearly which is great to see.”

Riewoldt was also confident ongoing issues over a new stadium in Tasmania for the club wou

Interestingly David Lithgow, a sports broadcaster in Tasmania, tweeted information on Tuesday that the jumper released won’t be the team’s regular strip.

“Just for clarity purposes. The Jumper reveal from last night featuring the famous map of Tassie foundation jumper will be worn sparingly, perhaps once or twice a year,” he wrote.

“The home and away Devils jumpers will be the mainstay. They will be released later down the track in due course.”