A ‘steering’ committee including Carlton coach Brendon Bolton and AFL legend Nick Riewoldt has been tasked with solving Tasmania’s football crisis.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan on Wednesday met local league and government figures during a whirlwind trip to Tasmania, which recently lost two teams from its state league.

“There is an extraordinary passion for football in Tasmania and it is a vital part of the community,” he said.

“There are challenges in the talent pathway and there are challenges in the TSL (Tasmanian State League).”

There is growing concern among local fans the AFL is ignoring the grassroots football state at the expense of northern expansion and projects such as AFLX.

This season’s TSL will feature no teams from the northwest region after Burnie and Devonport had pulled out.

McLachlan admitted the TSL had a “lack of relevance” for AFL recruiters.

Increased funding and a conference system for the state league and a Tasmanian team in the NEAFL, VFL and under-18 TAC Cup are options.

“We want Tasmanian talent competing at every level of the game,” McLachlan said.

“Today is a strong start for footy to progress in one of our founding states.

“We won’t let Tasmanian football go without, but solutions are not easy and will take time.”

A “specific announcement” will be made on April 14 about the state’s talent pathways, while the committee has a June 30 deadline to provide recommendations for the 2019 TSL season.

McLachlan announced an immediate $200,000 injection to subsidise the levies of juniors selected in AFL Tasmania’s talent program.

Newly appointed AFL Tasmania CEO Trisha Squires will join Bolton and Riewoldt on the committee, chaired by McLachlan.