 The submission for a licence was a joint project of the North Melbourne Football Club and the Government of Tasmania.In early 2018, AFL Tasmania CEO Rob Auld resigned, and the following day Burnie and Devonport withdrew from the Tasmanian State League, citing lack of funding 
making them unable to field sides, thus leaving the competition without any team from North Western Tasmania.The same week, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan was quoted as saying he "had a really clear plan for Tasmania"; that week, the AFLX launch took place as well as an announcement that the Gold Coast Suns received $25 million in subsidies for 2017.