Tasmania Devils fall short of VFL preliminary final in rainy North Hobart clash

The finals dream has ended for the Tasmania Devils in their inaugural VFL season, going down by 27 points in a slippery match against Essendon in North Hobart.

A win today would have secured Tasmania a place in a VFL preliminary final.

Essendon got to a strong start early in the match, though the Devils worked to narrow the gap to just 8 points going in to the second half.

However, the Dons, who were on a seven-game win streak, proved too strong to overcome, finishing with 101 points to the Devils' 74.

Optimism on dreary day

As gates opened at North Hobart on Saturday, the enthusiasm from fans decked out in green, donning raincoats and racing to get undercover seats, wasn't to be dampened.

For Lee and Lucy Edwards, there was nowhere else they would rather have been.

"I don't care — rain, hail or shine, let's go," Ms Edwards said before the match.

"We played really well earlier in the year in York park when it rained cats and dogs, and we got over the line there."

Mr Edwards said for the club to make it this far in their first season was an achievement in itself.

Decked out in her beanie and wet weather gear, Devils fan Ann Sigley was hoping she had a secret weapon with her in the stands — a bear in hand-knitted kit, named "mini Rum'un".

She said it took her four days to make the mini mascot, which is just one in her AFL collection.

"He shouts loud," she said, with a smile. "Goes up in the air a few times."

Among the sea of green, there were a few flickers of red and black. One of the brave Bombers supporters was Wynyard man Manassa Walker.

He said he was feeling confident going into the match, with the Essendon side including 18 AFL listed players, including former Devil, Jackson Artemis.

Mr Walker said, with a few Wynyard boys in the Tassie side he would also be barracking for them, but ultimately he was a "bomber at heart".

It was a similar sentiment shared by James Rogerson, who, wearing a Devils jumper and a Bombers scarf, was in for a win either way.

He said the Devils making it into a semi final, played at home, was a feat in itself.

"It's well above expectations, I think.

"They're doing really well. They've really gelled together as a team after only one pre-season together. I think they're doing really well."

For the young Davis family, watching their team was the perfect way to start the morning.

Daughter Sophie said she never doubted that the Devils would make it to to the semi finals.

"Of course. They're the Devils!"