‘Little bit cheeky’: Tasmania’s ‘odd’ new AFL mascot has mainlanders reaching for dictionary

One year on from its club launch across the Apple Isle, Tasmania have unveiled the name and look of their inaugural club mascot ahead of their planned AFL induction for the 2028 season.

The Devils mascot, named Rum’un, is listed by the Macquarie Dictionary as a Tasmanian slang word for a person that is “odd or eccentric”.

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The mascot was created alongside the Tasmanian arts organisation, Terrapin Puppet Theatre. Additionally, its fur is made from recycled school uniforms from across the state.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s club function he Devils’ General Manager of Marketing, Public Affairs and Social Impact Kath McCann revealed that the mascot took over 400 hours to create alongside the Terrapin Puppet Theatre, in an exercise that spanned over nine months.

“Rum’un is known as an odd character, a uniquely Tasmanian character and an affectionate term of endearment for a Tasmanian,” McCann said.

“Obviously we don’t have any players yet, but we do have a team — and Rum’un now takes a key place in our team.

“Rum’un’s going to play a really important role in participation; he’ll be working alongside the team at AFL Tasmania to get out into schools to drum up support and participation.”

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Since the club’s inaugural launch last year, the Devils have accrued over 207,000 founding members.

Rum'un with North Hobart Football Club junior player Katie Foale, 11, who will also co-host the launch with Jack Riewoldt (Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones) Source: News Corp Australia

Speaking earlier this week, Tasmania Football Club chief executive Brendon Gale said the one-year milestone since its establishment is worth celebrating.

“The Club has had a huge first year, with a range of milestones achieved throughout the year. Some of the highlights have includes the significant increase in football participation across Tasmania, record membership numbers and a coming together to support our Club like we have never seen before,” the former Richmond CEO said via a club statement.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, but with the support of our Founding Member base and the community more broadly we will continue to power ahead as we move toward entry into the national competition. (Tuesday) is about celebrating being one year closer to that becoming a reality.”

“Our newest recruit, Rum’un, will help us on our journey and be a great beacon of our Club across the state. The creation of Rum’un reflects our Club – uniquely Tasmanian, handcrafted and created with grit and determination representing our whole island. Rum’un is also a little bit cheeky. These characteristics are all true to the Tasmania Football Club, a Club that represents our whole state and who does things our way.”

Current AFL-listed players from Tasmania include Collingwood duo Jeremy Howe and Brody Mihocek, Gold Coast’s Lachie Weller, North Melbourne’s Colby McKercher, Richmond captain Toby Nankervis, St Kilda veteran Jimmy Webster and Western Bulldogs star defender Liam Jones. Jones’ second-year teamate Ryley Sanders is also from the Apple Isle.

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