Weller, who played 123 games for Gold Coast, St Kilda and Richmond, on Tuesday revealed his plans to move back to his home state a year earlier than he had originally hoped to for business and personal reasons.

It was a plan that had been on the table before the Victorian government declared a state of disaster.

Football only became a option again after last week receiving a clearance to the Dockers from Doncaster East in the EFL Premier Division, where he was planning to play in 2020, after Weller recently reached out to the Dockers to see if there was any chance of suiting up for his original club this year.

After two initial applications to enter the state were denied, the 28-year-old on Tuesday got the tick of approval from authorities and he and girlfriend Maddison will arrive in Tasmania this week before starting the 14 day mandatory quarantine period, which they will pay for out of their own pocket.

With Burnie having the round six NWFL bye, he is set to be available to play on August 29 against Ulverstone, before games against Devonport and Wynyard on September 12 and 19.

Returning to the state, he said, was a complete life choice, not just one that had been dictated by football.

"I'm not just coming back to try to get out of Melbourne, I was always going to move back for good, and it is not about footy for me really it is about family and the next stage of my life,'' he said.

"But it will be great to play for Burnie again and be at the same club as my brother [Tyson].

"But I haven't played footy since the VFL grand final and you don't realise you miss something until it is taken from you, and not having that outlet is tough.

"It's been 10 years since I played for Burnie and it has just been such a good 10 years chasing the AFL around the country, but it is really important for me to come back to where it all started.

"I am just looking forward to living back in Tassie."