The fabled Tasmanian JackJumpers have today begun their slow but steady march towards an NBL title.
The JackJumpers team are famous for being made up of sentient humanoid tree like beings that stand at nearly 4 metres tall, who generally mind their own business unless being attacked by outside forces.
They are the National Basketball League’s newest but oldest team, and have now been sprung into action after being attacked by the Melbourne Kings last night.
Making a second finals series in 3 years, the JackJumpers got off to as poor a start as possible, getting wiped by the Kings in Game 1 of the best of 5.
Normally ones to stay out of quarrels and mind their own business inside the confines of Tasmania’s Fangorn Forest, the JackJumpers have now decided to go to war following the aggression of the Melbournians.
“We Ents normally weather such storms,” said the JackJumpers captain Treebeard Steindl.
“But, they come with fire, they come with axes… gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning! Destroyers and usurpers, curse them!”
“The Melbournians should know better than to attack us like this.”
“We march now. The Ents are going to war. The last march of the Ents.”
The march will see the JackJumpers meet the Kings face to face this Friday in Game 2 of the series.
Richardson, who was a pimply kid dreaming of playing for his state back in 1990, said the moment the licence was granted as a “great day for Tasmania”.
But with the Tasmania Devils officially launched and the club’s nickname and jumper confirmed was even greater. It was a day, Richardson said, that “was overdue”.
“It is a massive moment in our history, our rich football history, which dates back 150 years,” Richardson said.
“If you had told me when I was growing up in Devenport that I would be back here announcing the colours for our AFL team, I would not have believed you. It is a huge night and I just can’t wait (for the Devils) to get underway.”
Tasmanian fans now have something tangible to identify with. A club jumper featuring the state of Tasmania as the heart. A Devil with an almighty tooth ready to bite hard. And an opportunity to become a member at just ten bucks a pop. Make sure to get in early!
Fox Footy expert Jack Riewoldt said “overwhelmingly through the surveys and … the face-to-face encounters we have had with our public, it is resounding that the Devils are our name”.
That was evident during the launch as attendees chanted the “Devils” name and as the celebrations continued into the night and the founding membership tally soared beyond 50,000.
“Carn the mighty Devils!” One can only imagine the roar when the Devils from Tasmania burst through the banner, kicks their first goal and clinch their first win.
Symbolism dripped from the rafters. Kent Jackson, the president of the Wynyard Football Club, lauded a Devil that represents every Tasmanian when issuing his war cry to fans.
Tasmanians, Jackson declared, “are characters that are handcrafted, can be feisty, and fight for their survival in a uniquely Tasmanian way”.
“You should never underestimate the devil in all of us,” he said.
“Our Tasmanian devil is not your average devil. It’s a mythical, powerful, authentic identity. It’s not what you might expect but it’s everything you hoped for.”
The launch in Devenport, with simulcasts at venues around the Apple Isle, had a distinctly community vibe that would not have been out of place at a country footy club pie night.
That is by design. In a state where there has been a divide in footy between the north and the south, the Tasmania Devils have to unite fans across the state to succeed.
Tasmania Devils chairman Grant O’Brien said he is keen to harness a sense of community togetherness and to make sure the club properly represents a unique state.
“Our membership offering will evolve over the coming years, but for now, we are proud to provide one price and one way for everyone to become a founding member,” he said.
“We encourage all Tasmanians and football fans to sign up as a founding member and become part of the team.”
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