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THE biggest issue facing the Devils was the gap between the level of local competitions and the standard of VFL football, AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade said yesterday.

Wade has called a meeting of AFL Tasmania's football department and the Devils' coaching staff tonight after the Devils' pitiful 114-point away loss to Werribee on Saturday -- their fifth loss in a row.

"Is the structure of football in Tasmania supporting the Devils?" Wade said.

"The message to the football-loving public of Tasmania is that the gap between the SFL and the NTFL and the VFL is enormous.

"We have got some players who have come back into the VFL competition after performing exceptionally well in local footy who are realising it is a big jump, but they will persevere and get there in the end."

Wade said while the Devils were fielding an extremely young team, performances such as Saturday's would not be tolerated.

"As a general manager, I picked up on the words `pathetic' and `uncompetitive', and the words from (coach) Daryn Cresswell that the performance was unacceptable," he said.

"Those words are totally unacceptable and we will do whatever we have to to turn that around."

Wade stressed tonight's gathering was not a crisis meeting.

"I would call it a meeting to draw a line in the sand to attempt to get the season back on track," he said.

"The season is only one-third of the way through. It is not over, but clearly the players, the coaching staff, the supporters and the Tasmanian football public would all agree that the performance on the weekend was unacceptable.

"We still believe Daryn Cresswell is absolutely the right man to lead the Devils over this period of time, and we know the players are trying, but things aren't working at the moment."

Wade conceded the recent losing streak would affect attendances at Saturday's game against Coburg at Bellerive and, as a result, the club's finances.

A Bellerive record low of just 1759 people turned up to the Devils' last Hobart game.

"People across the nation follow winners, and the Devils aren't winning," Wade said.

"We understand we might not get as many people to come to games, but wouldn't it be fantastic if the public showed its support by turning up and watching the Devils?

"If it is an unacceptable performance, then don't come back next week. But is there anyone in Tasmania who thinks the Devils have not been a positive initiative?

"If they do think it has been a positive initiative, then let's get behind them.

"We think the Devils is a great program and it is one of the best things to happen to Tasmanian football in recent times."