Crisis meetings are being held on the North West Coast to figure out how Burnie are going to weather the storm of players walking out on the club. The Dockers started out strongly in the TSL last season before they fell away, and then they were bundled out of the TSL Finals in straight sets.

acob Hislop joined an ever growing list of players leaving the club he has signed with Eastern Football League club Doncaster in Victoria. Billy-Jo Jackson is the next one to leave, he's off to North Hobart should they clear him. Rudy Barrett is also considering a move away from the club players that have already departed the club are Justin Plapp, Luke Russell, Clinton Brown, Maverick Weller, Zeb Graham, Brendan Blizzard, Bradley Davis, Callum Spiller, and Nick Imms.

There are rumours of others heading out, currently Billy-Jo Jackson's transfer is listed as pending, North Hobart are also currently looking to bring in Jesse Wells to the club as well. Bradley Davis leaving the club probably wasn't a massive out, as he was close to retirement but his out does leave a hole in the ruck for the Dockers.

Luke Shackleton is still rumoured to be the new coach of the Wynyard Football Club in the NTFL, players are rumoured to head to the NTFL to play for clubs like Penguin. There is a very good chance the Dockers could go into recess which could potentially open the door for Ulvestone who are very close to securing a spot into the Tasmanian State League they only needed one more vote of approval to see them enter the league as the 11th TSL club. Kingston are also vying for a spot in the league as well.

AFL Tasmania CEO Scott Wade said there would be no additional team this season, as New Norfolk were lobbying for a position in the new league, will this change should Burnie go into recess? You would think that there would be a change of mind since there are 3 teams wanting in, 1 team on the verge of destruction and no one would want a bye in a 9 team league.

The league may have to hold crisis meetings of their own to decide on a replacement team should the Dockers pull out of the league, unless there are players waiting in the wings. The impending doom of the Dockers could have an upside to the Bulldogs who finished last season on the bottom of the league, they might have a chance of getting off the bottom of the table.

Troubling times ahead for the Dockers, a once proud NTFL side that won 4 flags in a row in the NTFL, has been left a shadow of their former selves. The Tasmanian State League are close to seeing their first victim of the new league.