There would not have been a single aghast expression in response to the incoming Tasmania AFL outfit opting for a devil as their inaugural mascot, but mainland footy fans unfamiliar with the meaning of its name were left scrambling for their search engines.
'Rum'un', pronounced just as it reads, is a Tasmanian colloquialism that is defined by Macquarie Dictionary as 'an odd or eccentric person' but can often be used to describe someone with a slightly cheeky and/or mischievous character, which goes hand in glove with the public perception of the Tasmanian devil.
The mascot was revealed ahead of a Tuesday night dinner to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the official launch of the club, which has been many more years in the making.
Speaking exclusively to the AFL.com.au website, Tasmania Devils CEO Brendon Gale said the mascot couldn't be a better fit for the newcomers.
"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.”
The reveal comes as the Tasmania Devils remain on target to enter the AFLW and men's VFL competitions in 2026 before an AFL debut in 2028 despite increasing uncertainty over the construction of Hobart's new all-purpose stadium at Macquarie Point, which has been an ongoing political debate since its proposal.
Construction is yet to begin on the stadium whilst it undergoes a 12-month assessment by the Tasmanian Planning Commission, which will make final recommendations for its construction (or otherwise) in September 2025, just six months before the men's team is due to enter the VFL.
Whilst the stadium now enjoys bipartisan support from both the Liberal government and ALP opposition, it will need at least two of the seven crossbenchers in the Tasmanian upper house to support its construction - and those negotiations could go well into 2026.
Regardless of whether the first sod is ever turned over at the Macquarie Point site, there's little doubt that little Rum'un will be well received by the Tasmanian public.