Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Lynch: Devils plan if Bucks or another target goes to Melbourne
SEN • August 8th, 2025 11:31 am
Nathan Buckley’s willingness to speak with Melbourne over the vacant coaching position will not impact the Tassie Devils’ plans when it comes to who leads the club into the 2028 season, according to Alastair Lynch.
In the aftermath of Simon Goodwin’s sacking this week, Buckley’s name is one of many being touted as a contender to take over at the Demons despite being linked with the Devils.
The Tassie franchise is not due to enter the competition until 2028 – a move which remains subject to significant political discussions and approvals – so the club would be in no position to ask Buckley and other available coaches to refrain from applying elsewhere.
“There is a plan and it’s something we’re discussing at the moment regarding process and the detail about the type of coach we want,” Lynch said on SEN Tassie.
“We need a high-energy teacher. You’re coaching a startup basically and it’s a state team so you have to have the energy to get around stakeholders.
“We’re mapping out timelines at the moment but let’s say Bucks, we couldn’t go to him and say ‘don’t take the Melbourne job because you’re right with us’.
“We’ve got no idea who will come up. We are putting in place now the type of coach we would like, then the process.
“The start time would be well prior to the start of the 2028 season when we hopefully come into the competition, that’s a process for now but it’s far too early for the Devils to make any calls.”
The future of the Devils was thrown into uncertainty in June when a no-confidence motion was filed against Jeremy Rockliff. The move prompted another state election which has only delayed progress on the proposed stadium being approved.
Whatever the future holds, Lynch is adamant the Devils are a long way off naming their inaugural coach.
“Theres a number of good candidates out there at the moment and we don’t know who will be available next year,” he said. “You can’t jump to acquire a coach now when you don’t have a role.
“We have work to do in the pathway and junior academy. We have to finalise what happens there. The priority is the great development coaches and get the academy thriving.
“The next step is to appoint a senior coach but that’s probably 12 months away.”
In terms of what the political uncertainty means for the club, Lynch insists it’s business as usual for now.
“We’re going as if we’re getting the stadium and the license,” he said. “Time is of the essence, and we have to plough ahead.
“We want some clarity and direction. We want to know what we’re doing with the stadium so we can start rolling things out.”
