Tasmania will be represented in the Telstra Half-Time Sprint for the first time, with Devils speedster Brandon Leary set to line up at the MCG during Saturday’s Toyota AFL Grand Final.

While the Devils’ AFL debut is still to come, Leary will carry Tasmania’s colours onto football’s biggest stage this weekend.

The 23-year-old earned the opportunity after a standout first VFL season with the Devils.

Despite a strong campaign with Tasmania’s under-18 side, Leary was overlooked in the 2022 AFL Draft.

He trialled with Hawthorn during the 2023 pre-season supplemental selection period but did not secure a contract.

Leary returned home and starred for North Launceston in the TSL, kicking 58 goals in 15 games last year before joining the Devils’ inaugural VFL squad.

He played 19 games for Tasmania this season, with his aerial ability and instinct around goal establishing him as one of the most exciting players in the competition.

Leary will lineup against reigning Telstra Half-Time Sprint champion Jed Walter (Gold Coast SUNS), Willem Duursma (West Coast Eagles), Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne), Arthur Jones (Western Bulldogs), Jarman Impey (Hawthorn), Ollie Florent (Carlton) and Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide).

Australian sporting icon and Sydney 2000 Olympic 400m gold medallist Cathy Freeman will fire the starting gun for Saturday’s sprint.

Telstra will donate $5,000 to the sprint winner’s junior football club in recognition of its commitment to grassroots football.