Fletcher, who was the first male to coach at the national club level back in 2005 for the defunct Newcastle-based Hunter Jaegars, was named the coach for the Tasmanian Magpies into a fourth season.

But it was also unfinished business for the team's ANL founding mentor in 2017.

Replaced after their debut season that had promised so much, Fletcher was all set to combine his motivational speaking job with a job that motivated him to come back again to the court sidelines.

But Netball Australia's call to abandon the second-tier interstate series has left the 59-year-old feeling empty.

"It was really disappointing because we assembled a really good squad this year," Fletcher said.

"I was really excited by the prospect of coaching again because I wanted to have another crack at coaching, just as much as I feel disappointed for the girls."

While the top Tasmanians have another opportunity to, at least, step back onto the State League court, Fletcher's renowned tactical nous and pep talks will have to be put aside until next year.

The wily coach will oversee the elite development squad program for Tasmania that will run over three regions.

But even his best chance of "hands on coaching" is not quite the same.

"I love being a competitive coach or a coaching animal, which is a good description because that is exactly what I am," Fletcher said.

"I absolutely do love game day - I don't think any coach doesn't. I really was looking forward to the competition and the challenge of that."

That commitment remains to go around again for 2021 should his sense of humour count for much after facing endless zoom meetings in partial lockdown amid isolation and social distancing.

"Well, I do not reckon I could get sacked when I haven't coached a game this year," Fletcher wryly said.

"So I'd have to be a chance to go again next year, I hope."

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Fletcher sounded somewhat philosophical with last week's surprise decision to scrap the ANL as COVID-19 cases started to shrink.

The competition runs for only eight weeks including finals, while Super Netball was cleared to resume from the first day of August.

"I think it was a decision that we had no influence over at all," he said.

"I also think considering the circumstances of how the year has panned out like the uncertainty of when borders are going to be open or even close for us, it was hard.

"It was going to be a decision that the longer Covid went for, the more likely it was going to happen.

"I was hopeful there might have been a hybrid version of a smaller competition over a weekend tournament or a couple of weekends later on.

"I think you would see the reasons were based around a lot of financial issues and really financially it was going to be a bit hard to sustain it this year when most sports have taken a bit of a hit."

Fletcher has also flagged a real opportunity for the Tasmanian Magpies to play a few friendly matches against ANL rivals or possibly even Collingwood if before August and travel is not a factor.

It will not be to the detriment to the State League, but the Tasmanian-based stars will still train together.

"Our aim now is to prepare girls for state programs next year and ANL in whatever form that may well take after all of this," Fletcher said.

"If there is one good thing to come out of this, they will be better prepared to play the whole season with their State League clubs.

"So they won't have an interrupted year and will have plenty of competition."

Regardless, Fletcher is now thinking about next year. The State League season will not end until October that will alter the selection process.

"Before you know it, because we are already half way through the year, we will be looking at picking next year's ANL squad anyway," he said.

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