A stalwart of the community for more than 50 years, the Tamar Valley Mini League was disbanded in March this year after a variety of changes led to both volunteer and player shortages.

The competition's demise has seen AFL Tasmania join forces with NTJFA outfit Tamar Demons to operate the region's junior footy program, with the Demons set to field a new under-10s side this year.

AFL Tasmania's Northern regional manager Aaron Roberts said he hoped a renewed focus on the youngest age group would bring more players into the game.

"Over the last couple of years it's been mostly older kids playing the Mini League games so the Auskick for years 5-8 probably hasn't been as big a focus," he said.

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"We've worked with the Tamar Demons and with the Mini League as well for the Tamar Demons to take over the Auskick space for 5-9 years for Beaconsfield and Exeter and also Bridgenorth.

"We want to double the numbers here - we reckon there's enough people in the community to get it back to the early 2000s where the Mini League was a really big comp.

"We're only probably halfway there at the moment."

AFL Tasmania has been providing staff to help run training sessions at Beaconsfield and Exeter, however, it is hoped Demons players and volunteers will take the lead in delivering the program next year.

Roberts said there was already enough numbers for two under-10 Tamar Demons teams, and that a third was not an unrealistic proposition into the future.

"We have had an increase of 63 per cent over the last three years, especially in the junior age range 7-12," Tamar Demons president Phil Goss said.

"Our club now caters for all ages 5-17, and we can start to transition Auskickers into our under-9 and under-10 teams in 2022.

"Although it's a shame the Mini League was not able to continue, we believe that our club is a vibrant and safe place to play sport, and we will continue to look to grow and engage more children."

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