CARLTON and ex-North Hobart premiership coach Brendon Bolton has used Wednesday night's celebration of Tasmanian football event to lobby for better development pathways in his home state.

Bolton was among more than 500 people, including Ian Stewart, Nick and Jack Riewoldt, Peter and Paul Hudson, Alastair Lynch and Rodney Eade, who attended the AFL Tasmania function at Melbourne's Crown Palladium. 

St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt and Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan were the latest in the past week to renew calls for a Tasmanian AFL team. Fagan's impassioned plea on Wednesday night drew a big applause. 

But Bolton, who is in his second year at the Blues, met with AFL Tasmania chief executive Rob Auld in the past fortnight to discuss the revival of the Tassie Mariners under-18 concept.

The Mariners competed in the Victorian-based TAC Cup competition between 1995 and 2002, while the Tasmanian Devils were in the VFL for eight years from 2001. 

"I just think the higher purpose of having something to connect with and belong with is really important – maybe even if it's a reintroduction of the Tassie Mariners," Bolton said.

"It gives you something to be proud of; a state team, as a start point. The other motivation for people is trying just to be a master of what they do.

"A lot of the young kids in Tasmania don't really know what they can achieve or what they need to compare to, unless they're playing against some of the best talent in the country every week."

Alarm bells were rung across the country last year when Tasmania finished last at the AFL Under-18 Championships and failed to have a single player drafted to the elite level. 

Auld is mapping a future direction for Tasmanian football, which could include an AFLW team – in association with an existing AFL club – as soon as 2019 and a VFL partnership with North Melbourne. 

He plans to speak to Kangaroos officials soon, but expected them to be receptive, given they are fielding a standalone VFL team next year and have a Next Generation Academy in Tasmania.

"Maybe we can have a discussion with them about getting some spots on their side," Auld told AFL.com.au. 

"It may not be every week … but they've got the Next Generation Academy in Tasmania, so it's a natural evolution of that to allow that talent to play at that level." 

Auld said last year's draft wipeout was "not something we're proud of" – after having 16 players drafted across the previous four years – but that it was not a trend. 

Eight Tasmanians will compete for the Allies in Division One of this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and Auld was confident at least three of those would be drafted in November. 

Tasmanians Chayce Jones and Tarryn Thomas, who is part of the Roos' Academy, are potential top-20 draft picks next year. 

"Whatever competition environment we have in Tasmania, it needs to have an element that's elite," Auld said.

"It needs to have an element that exposes these young athletes to competition that continues to stretch and grow.

"Whether that means it's the Mariners, I don't know – I'm not dismissing it, I just don't know how that would work. But it's got to continue to strive and create aspiration." 

Auld said AFL Tasmania, which has established the Tasmanian Football Foundation, was looking to invest about $1 million in the next decade into helping disadvantaged youth play the game. 

But any push for an AFL side to be based out of Tasmania will have to wait, with Auld focusing on the final four years of the deal for North Melbourne and Hawthorn to play matches there. 

That arrangement is also under the AFL Tasmania microscope, although the chief executive said both clubs were "really good to work with". 

"I think Tasmanians are not that fond of being told, 'We've got content, so be happy'," Auld said.

"What we've got to do is continue to work with those clubs to make sure Tasmanians feel their investment and connection to the community. If we lose that, they won't support it. 

"If you look at tonight, they're supporting this (function) because it's Tasmanian."

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan praised the establishment of the Tasmanian Football Foundation and the goal to unite those passionate about the state's future in the sport. 

"It's a formidable state that is incredibly important in our national game," McLachlan said. 

"All funding sources are important … we can do our bit, but it's great to galvanise Tasmanian football and hopefully grow progressively."