The 12-week home and away season and two-week finals series will fit snugly into the three-month gap available between July 18 and October 18, but leaves little wriggle room for breaks.

Teams have been rostered three byes a season in recent years but appear unlikely to get a breather this season, and other changes including midweek games could be in the works too.

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"The season potentially could look a little bit different with games and when they are played, so we've got to be prepared for all facets," Whitford said.

"That's the unknown - because we've given that option as to when we can finish and we've got to fit in with the cricket leagues as well.

"I know the roster hasn't been finalised and they're going to be working through that the next couple of weeks, but from my point of view anyway we've got to make sure the roster is viable for all players and were not just trying to squeeze games in because we want games of footy.

"We've got to make sure the health and wellbeing of our players is first and foremost rather than trying to squeeze too many games in."

The North of the state is set to have its eyes fixed on the State League this year after the NTFA opted to call off its season earlier this month.

Whitford said he hoped the silver lining for NTFA fans and players would be getting to engage more with TSL football.

"Our guys go above and beyond to provide their services to TSL footy and I hope that that gets highlighted this year - all the spotlight is going to be on the TSL," he said.

"It's not great for regional footy - that's not the positive, but the positive is for the TSL per se that they do get that extra coverage that they probably wouldn't normally get.

"It does promote our game which is a benefit for us - not so much footy in the state, but a benefit for us as an entity."

The NTFA's absence will garner interest in other ways too.

AFL Tasmania's new transfer by-law allows players whose clubs will not be competing in 2020 to complete a temporary shift to another club.

Two-time reigning Alistair Lynch Medallist Josh Ponting looks to be the most enticing free agent at NTFA level, but his return to UTAS Stadium doesn't appear a foregone conclusion.

"Realistically for us our list was finalised two or three months ago before this all hit," Whitford said.

"I'm not even sure about the logistics of the transfer system and June 30 and all of that and I don't think any clubs are at the moment either.

"The guys that are there have done the work and I think they need to be rewarded for that.

"Realistically there might be changes within the comp with guys wanting to play football, but for our footy club we're about the guys that are there doing the work and who have put in the effort over a long period of time."

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