Riewoldt backs Devils after fans slam 'junk' jumper

St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt has slammed “criticism” of the Tasmania Devils new jumper that was launched alongside the team name, logo and membership drive ahead of their addition to the AFL in 2028.

The new side was launched across the state on Monday night as the Tasmania Devils, opting to retain the colours they have worn on their jumper since 1908.

Alongside their name, their colours will consist of red, green and yellow, also choosing to wear the Tasmania state jumper, that dons the island in yellow with a red ‘T’ in the middle. The devil logo will be on the jumper’s breast.

In a nod to their long-spanning history, the club chose to stick with the traditional jumper that has carried them through over 100 years of football.

However, some football fans have labelled the move as “junk” and “lacking in creativity”.

Nick Riewoldt has come out in defence of Tasmania’s jersey.

“The Tassie Devils is naturally the perfect name for them, but the logo is junk and the colours and jumper are completely unimaginative and lacking in creativity,” fan Shane Willo said on X.

Some have suggested they are “stealing” the only state jumper Tasmania has ever donned.

“A traditional-looking footy strip with a nod to Tassie’s heritage, without stealing it’s state’s only jumper,” FiveAA reporter Sam Tugwell wrote on X, sharing a picture of another possible jumper design.

Riewoldt, who was born and bred in Hobart, has leapt to the defence of the new jumper.

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

There have been calls to modernise the jumper, with Riewoldt, who was named Tasmania’s greatest footballer in 2020, suggesting alternative ways to refresh the traditional look.

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

“I thought the colour palette, the jumper, the logo, they were all 10/10 for me. Well done to the organising committee and everyone involved.”

For the dreamers, the Believers, the ‘my new second team’-ers. For Tasmanians and Tasmanians-at-heart. For the point provers and the pure footy fans. Thank you. With 100,000 Founding Members – and more to come – we are the team. #teamdevils pic.twitter.com/2FoakuzZlu

— Tasmania Football Club (@FC_Tasmania) March 19, 2024

Matthew Richardson officially announced the colours of the new club, in his home town of Devonport on Monday night.

“It really is a no brainer as far as I’m concerned. We first wore these colours in 1908. All of the legend of Tasmanian football have worn these colours,” Richardson said at the launch.

In an exciting update, the club has announced it has already surpassed 100,000 founding members just 24 hours after the official launch.

The club decided the offer memberships for just $10, with all who signed up being labelled as the club’s “founding members”.