The AFL looks set to send the cream of Tasmanian women's talent to Greater Western Sydney in another affront to the traditional football state.

With Tasmania initially pushing for its own women's team or, at the very least an alignment with one of its home AFL sides, the league has instead reached an agreement with the state government to dispatch Tasmania's best footballers to New South Wales.

The irony that the AFL — which two years ago took over the game in Tasmania ousting the state's football board — has again prioritised Sydney's west over the struggling football state has not been lost on local passionate supporters.

Recently ousted Tasmanian football CEO Scott Wade told Fairfax Media: "Obviously when the (then) VFL expanded many years ago, Tasmania missed an opportunity to get in at the ground floor.

"If we miss this opportunity to establish our own women's team we may never get another one.  It should be something Tasmanians vigorously pursue."

When the AFL Commission  convened for the first time in Tasmania last year, commissioner Simone Wilkie, now chairing the women's football advisory group, suggested  that the state should consider fielding a women's team. However the league abandoned that proposal.

North Melbourne, who is on the verge of a  five-year agreement to play three home games annually in Hobart, has launched a detailed and compelling bid for a foundation women's team. However club boss Carl Dilena has accepted that the Kangaroos' push, if successful, will have no ties during the competition's fledgling years with Tasmania.

"That would be our concerted aim down the track," said Dilena, "but initially New South Wales has an issue with its talent depth so the Tasmanian players will be drafted to play there."

The AFL document outlining the strategy for the soon-to-be-launched national league sent to all 18 clubs states that Tasmania's best players would be drafted by the New South Wales-based team.

The decision to bypass Tasmania has also caused some political disquiet. The state's Greens leader Cassy O'Connor, in a letter to the Premier Will Hodgman, asked why the government had not made a strong case for a women's AFL team.

Hodgman's response, in a letter obtained by Fairfax, stated: "A number of steps need to occur before Tasmania fields its own women's team.   'The 2017 AFL Women's League will provide opportunities for our young female athletes to compete with Tasmanian players to be aligned to the New South Wales team."

The  GWS submission remains in the box seat to succeed given the AFL's determination to field a women's team from every mainland   state coupled with the fact the Swans have chosen not to bid.

The Giants' proposal outlines the club's strategy to develop the women's game in both Sydney's west and Canberra with the club prepared to stage matches at Spotless Stadium and Manuka as well as Wagga. The club has not proposed to play any women's matches in Tasmania.

The AFL will next month install a new CEO – Robert Auld, an accountant –  to oversee the game in Tasmania.