The side lost seven players through retirement, moves to interstate or to other parts of Tasmania and pregnancy from the 2017 squad.

They had gone 28 games undefeated which saw them also claim each major trophy with the Summer Cup, Statewide Cup and Women's Super League.

"Some of those were key players so that within itself was a significant issue, we needed to recruit to replace those numbers but we didn't get the numbers we wanted," coach Chris Hey said.

Credit: Solstice Photography

While the side recruited some great players during the offseason, other players who said they might pop along, never did.

The Zebras, in the end, did have 31 players but injuries throughout the season coupled with players needing to choose work over playing meant they were left with 25 registered players to field two teams.

It meant the club had to rely on all 25 being available every week. Competition rules state that starting XI players cannot play in both divisions on the same weekend.

"You end up with teams start with eight, nine, 10 players, those players will end up thinking 'this is just a waste of time, what am I doing, I've got better things to do' so that's the concern as I have to our survival," Hey said.

"I know there has been a lot of phone calls over the last 48 hours," he added.