The new Tasmania Devils last season rejoined the elite under-18 competition after the state exited the former TAC Cup at the end of 2002.

The move coincided with a big reduction in Tasmanians getting drafted to AFL clubs.

But since the outbreak of coronavirus has prevented the revamped NAB League to commence, doubts remain over the viability this year of the competition playing out.

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That could mean the top-age 18-year-olds eligible for the AFL draft are not only overlooked at the end of the year, but in 2021 Tasmanian players will have little choice but to stand out to AFL clubs from the State League.

A coy AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires was towing the line from the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce that the state government backed.

The recommendation in its report that had been tabled to parliament was Tasmania should not join the VFL until at least 2022, a season later than originally mooted.

"The VFL provisional licence continues to be on the agenda and will be worked through with AFL House at an appropriate time," Squires said in a brief statement.

Squires did not want to be drawn into concerns that the Devils' program, which also includes its new girls' squad that played two games before their under-18 season was postponed, would be set back years by the virus.

AFL Tasmania instead was hopeful of the state's return should the suspension of the game be lifted on May 31.

"We'll continue to communicate with parents and players as we work through an unprecedented time," she said. "We're thinking of everyone doing it tough through a challenging period."

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