Smithton Football Club players, volunteers and life members hold faith that the club will return to the NWFL in 2020

The Giants held a crisis meeting on Tuesday night in search of 30 more players, but a lack of interest from younger players forced the club to decide to not enter teams in the competition this year, which would have been the club's 100^th season.

Peter "Knobs" Korpershoek, a 1983 premiership player and the 2009 under 19 premiership coach with the club, said he saw warning signs back in 2009, but he was still upset to hear the news.

"I was an apology at Tuesday's meeting because of work in Launceston, but I was not surprised because when I last coached the under 19 premiership, I could see the writing on the wall," Korpershoek said.

"The players didn't seem as interested or were as committed as what they used to be and personally that is like life in general.

"When I was coming through, you would commit for two nights a week and for Saturday for the whole season, but now people have the options to easily go to Melbourne to watch the AFL or go on nature walks over the weekends.

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"I am still horrified by the club's decision because the whole town was behind us when we started in the NWFU in 1980, but maybe the novelty has worn off."

Korspershoek said he felt the issue was not restricted to the North-West Coast and Smithton and was unsure if there was an easy fix. 

"It is just the way it seems to be now and when I travel along the Coast for work and around the Scottsdale area, it is much the same.

"There are a lot of clubs that are going under and I don't have an answer on how we are going to stop that."

Former club secretary Megan Popowski said she was heartbroken when she was made aware of the decision because she was hopeful the pathway to top level football for talented juniors would remain open.

"There was a lot of people at the club at the meeting and I still felt hope, but that was me just wanting the club to keep playing and there wasn't many young players here," Popowski said.

"To put the numbers we did have on the field would have been more heartbreaking I think, but I when I read the news Wednesday morning, it was a kick in the guts.

"I have been around since 1980 with my father and come footy time it was great to get everyone back together.

"It is all about the future, where are the kids going to play or are they going to miss on their opportunities to get noticed at the next level."

Popowski said the Giants volunteers would not give up and will continue their regular community activities.

"The team may not be playing on a Saturday, but our ladies have already marked dates in the calendar to run counter meals on a Friday because we know the club will get going again and we need to keep bringing in money for the young ones."

Matt Elliott, the 2017-18 coach was one of the experienced players who departed the club at the end of the season, as he moved with his partner to Hobart and is set to play for Lauderdale this season.

Elliott said it was tough to see the struggle for player numbers as a member of the side and was hopeful changes would be made to help the club rebuild.

"We have sort of been hanging on as a playing group with the age gap growing.

"The veterans were trying to stick around as long as they can and when a few of them retired, a few of the middle aged guys moved away and it was very hard to get enough players.

"Something has got to happen for Circular Head to be enjoyable to live for everyone around the area, we need both Circular Head footy and the Giants.

"Both have been around for a long time, but I don't think the two parties will come to an agreement and AFL Tasmania or someone from outside needs to step in and make something happen.

"I don't think either committee would be willing to concede."

Elliott didn't think it was an issue of travel that was impacting on player numbers, but a range of time pressures associated with life.

"I don't think the travel was too bad, when you live in Smithton for your entire life, you are pretty used to getting in the car and travelling up the Coast.

"I think it is a commitment issue, you are required to train twice a week and all the other things that go with it.

"I just don't think the guys understand the commitment it takes to play at that level and the with the extra games in the NWFL, there is a worry that they are more likely to get injured for work."

"Shift work is big down in Circular Head, everyone is doing it because there are not many 9-5 jobs that you can recruit guys for.

"They need to be able to take on shift work or weekend work or they go out of the area."

Elliott was hopeful the Giants would be back next season.

"I like to think that they will be able to be back in 2020, but something needs to change and people need to be able to get better work arrangements or travel up from the Coast to play.

"Fingers crossed that it will happen, but they need a job influx and a Circular Head footy restructure."

Circular Head deputy mayor Norman Berechree said he hoped football stakeholders could get behind the Giants plight because the region needed football to be strong.

"It is hard for everyone because team sport helps keep kids on the straight and narrow and it is important," Berechree said.

"I think the clubs have all done the best they can and I hope they can rebuild and the community can get on board."

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