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As a stand-alone VFL club, the Devils played five seasons for a 46 per cent winning return, and made the finals from 2003-05.

However, since entering the alignment, the Devils have won just eight of 25 games at 32 per cent, missed last year's finals, and are currently sitting at the bottom of the VFL ladder.

Asked if the VFL continued on its present format next season -- subject to the AFL's review of the second-tier competition -- whether the Devils would still be partially aligned, AFL Tasmania general manger Scott Wade said: "Good question, and that is certainly something we need to consider as part of this whole process.

"The sole reason we have tried it and are trying it is to win this competition (because) you need access to AFL players or you need to spend a significant amount of money on recruiting players to Tasmania -- money we haven't got.

"All I'm saying about the partial alignment is the reality is, neither Tasmania nor (fellow Kangaroos partial alignment side) North Ballarat have got the return they were both hoping for.

"If we stay in the VFL competition next year, will we be partially aligned? It is a good question because as part of the AFL second-tier review we are obviously looking at what do we do."

There has also been speculation interstate that the second-tier review would recommend AFL clubs ending their VFL alignments and entering their own reserves teams into an expanded VFL competition.

Wade said this was not a recommendation AFL Tasmania welcomed because it was already an uneven competition due to the number of AFL-listed players playing with each club.

"Is it the AFL reserves or the VFL? It seems to me that it is still a bit all over the shop," he said.

"We are terribly frustrated with the VFL competition as it is a competition of compromise.

"What they are suggesting here in our opinion would just make it worse."

Wade said AFL Tasmania was seriously considering three options in no particular order for the Devils' future: continue on partially aligned; go back to being a stand-alone team; or enter the SANFL.

"There could be some significant opportunities for the state of Tasmania in the SANFL competition, but we are not very far into discussions," Wade said.

"The ball is in the SANFL's court.

"They are putting together a document which they will give us a look at, and then we'll add or delete our bits to it and then we will continue the discussions.

"These discussions with the SANFL will probably take place in more detail over the next couple of months."