A president of a North-West club believes "long memories" could hinder hopes of reviving a Greater Northern League.
The concept has come under debate again after Launceston president Scott Stephens urged clubs to look at its merits after revealing the Blues are yet to commit to an expanded 10-team NTFA Premier League.
Burnie president Wayne Elphinstone, also a former NTFL board member, said bridges might need to be mended for talks to reach any official level.
North Launceston, South Launceston and Launceston opted to leave the NTFL in favour of the State League when it began in 2009, with Burnie and Devonport also joining from the North-West.
"Some people have a long memory," Elphinstone said.
"I was on the NTFL board back in the day when North (Launceston) and Launceston said they don't want to play in the NTFL anymore, we want to play Statewide. Yes the people at the clubs change, but the memories don't change.
"I think there might be some merit (discussing its return). There'd have to be a lot of conversations, and I do feel for the NTFA in the sense given we have to grow one team (winless East Devonport), they have to grow three or four."
Elphinstone believes there's a chance the NTFL may still be operating had the State League not been introduced.
"The teams that had been pillaged because of Statewide, I think their answer is going to be pretty quick," he said.
"I think back in the day it was a pretty damn good competition. Then it went Statewide, and I think everyone was pretty pleased to see the three regions come again.
"The (North-West) clubs were hurt because they had to watch their competition get pulled apart, and Devonport and Burnie were always going to be the logical teams to go as the city clubs.
"Then you've got your good players at others clubs wanting to play the best football, so they leave their clubs to play Statewide.
"It went back to a six-team competition and lost some really good players. Then Burnie win the next five premierships straight and Devonport have won the last six.
"We had a pretty good competition going in the NTFL. It was a very even competition and most likely if there wasn't Statewide who knows, it might still be a very good competition."
South Launceston only enhanced its reputation as one of the state's best junior nurseries, with the vast majority of the players who featured in this year's clean sweep of under-18s, seniors, reserves and women's flags coming through the system.
Bulldogs president Steve Hibbs said they would be willing to have a conversation about a Greater Northern League, but concrete answers around governance and funding would be needed first.
"Personally I don't dislike the conversation because if you're trying to better football, you have to have the conversation," Hibbs said.
"The governance and funding questions are the first two that need to be answered. If it's going to get people interested in football again it's gotta be a good thing.
"Like 'Scuba' (Stephens) said it would probably stop the dilution of the Premier League competition as well.
"It would be great to get all the governing bodies in the room and say is this going to happen or not, and knock it on the head if it's not.
"Even before we have the debate all that has to be pretty clear, but if it is better for football then we certainly have to look at it.
"It has to be sustainable, that's the biggest thing if it is to go ahead. There's a lot of work that has to be done yet before it's even considered yet, I feel."
Scottsdale president Manuel Hall said the concept wouldn't suit them given the travel demands.
"As far as Scottsdale is concerned it's not going to suit us," Hall said.
"I'm assuming they wouldn't want us because of the distance they'd have to travel. When I was playing in the under-19s we'd stay at Stanley or [Smithton accommodation] Tall Timbers or somewhere like that the night before to make sure we get to the game on time."
NTFA president Peter Gutwein said they've made it clear where their future lies by announcing an expanded 10-team Premier League from 2028.
He believes focusing on our own patch is overdue.
"We've made our decision in where we see the future of the NTFA," Gutwein said.
"Since I was a young man paying football through the 1980s we've had the GNL, we've had Statewide and TSL and two versions of the NTFL.
"I just wonder how strong football in the north would be if we just focused on our own ecosystem, had strong junior pathways with senior clubs, and we focused on building our clubs rather than all of those different leagues.
"I've spoken to AFL Tas in recent days and over the last couple of weeks. They remain absolutely committed to building three strong regions and with that commitment, I can't see any position that takes clubs out of the NWFL or the NTFA.
"There's no administrative body and as funding flows to the regions there'll be no funding to support it. In my mind, it's going nowhere.
"To those who want to look to create other leagues, my very strong suggestion would be you should try to become the best in your current league first."