Why Tassie is lovin’ Rum’un: Inside the creation of Tasmania’s new AFL mascot

Rum'un the Devil has slowly but surely nestled into the hearts and minds of Tasmanians alike with its co-creator giving some background around how Rum'un came to be.

Marking the one-year anniversary of Tasmania being awarded the 19th license, the creation of the mascot was announced on Tuesday, as a collaboration between the team and the Terrapin Puppet Theatre who are based in Tasmania.

And on SEN’s Tassie Breakfast, the Artistic Director of the Terrapin Puppet Theatre, Sam Routledge would give some more artistic insight about how the mascot came to be.

One of the most intriguing and notable parts of the mascot’s construction has been of its fur across the devil.

To create it, Terrapin would reach out to schools and ask for old school uniforms who had dark green uniforms to be donated to then cut and place.

“Some of the commentary has been around, gee it looks like a piñata,” Routledge noted.

“That’s because of that fur, and what that fur does and this what you have to remember that the reason why it has got that fur is, that the fur moves.

“So, when this character is in movement on the ground, that fur adds extra movement to the character so that it brings it more to life.

“One of the things that Kath (McCann), talks about is the fabrics of the club, so therefore you’ve got these literal fabrics of Tasmania on the mascot.”

Another important component in the development of Rum’un has been the input of the Tasmanian community into the design.

Terrapin would work with children and junior footballers about what they should incorporate into the mascot which included adding the ability for Rum’un to consume and poo out a football and embrace football’s rougher edges.

“Football is not cute, football is like an incredible game, it’s spontaneous but it’s rough and it takes tenacity and courage and alongside that what is the character of a devil,” Routledge said.

“We love them, they're not cute but we love them and so you’ve got to have that character in there as well in the mascot.”

There have been fears on social media that the mascot may be too scary for young children, but Routledge believes that the attitudes of people have shifted towards a more positive light on Rum’un and that its slightly scary nature may endear itself to fans.

“It’s sort of scary, but if you imagine that on a gameday experience and it’s fierce and it’s pumping up the team and you’re seeing that next to another mascot that might be smiley, it’s going to provide a great contest," he said.

“We’ve now seen the public’s attention shift and the attitude towards it and now you are seeing a lot of commentary of people going actually now I look at this and this is really growing on me.

“We grew up with the Muppets, we grew up with that huge puppet that’s in the Muppets and Sesame Street.

“We grew up with films like The Never-Ending Story, films like The Labyrinth, now there are some really scary characters in there but ultimately you love them.”

Routledge also alluded to the possibility of more mascots becoming apart of Tasmania's AFL team as per his discussions with the Tasmanian AFL team.

“That just shows the breadth of their imagination, I mean Kath mentioned Turbo Chooks," he said.

“Imagine if you did have some Turbo Chooks and there was a whole little narrative."

Earlier in the show, host Tim Paine would give their reaction to Rum’un and cannot believe people are upset about this.

“Rum’un is brilliant!” Paine exclaimed.

“Rum’un is one of the greatest and I know that we’re a little biased Breno when it comes to the footy and the basketball at times, but in my opinion, Rum’un is one of the best mascots in the AFL.

“I think he looks fantastic, he moves, the mouth opening.

“The Tasmanian Devil is only in our state, it is perfect, the name is great it’s cheeky. “I don’t get all the hate.”

Fellow host Brent Costello would also be in agreement.

“It is magnificent, the whole thing is magnificent.” He said.

Rum’un will now go on a community tour around Tasmania over the next few weeks with more information about his origin story to be released shortly.

Photo Credit: Rum'un's Instagram page