Mark Dwyer and Noel Mugavin - two south-west natives who spent time at Fitzroy - want the AFL to consider the switch in footy's coronavirus-enforced shutdown.

Chief executive Gillon McLachlan on Thursday said the draft age topic was being discussed at AFL headquarters.

He dismissed speculation that a draft would not take place in 2020.

"I know there are various views on all of that, but one thing I've heard in the last 24 hours from various people around football... is that the best 18-year-old kids are walking straight into very good teams and having an impact straight away," he said.

"People are looking for the whole draft class to be more mature, but they certainly don't want to have less access to the best 18 year olds."

But Dwyer, now a real estate agent, said lifting the age would ease pressure on parents and kids.

"At 19, kids are done with their VCE, they have their licenses... It takes a lot of pressure off the parents with travelling," he said.

"I'm a bit biased to Warrnambool and the area but it's no worries for kids in Melbourne or Geelong because the travel isn't there as much."

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Mugavin said the footy's COVID-19 hiatus had given the AFL a chance to "make an impact on the direction of the game" and to look at country football's plight.

"It could be diabolical for country footy. If you look at what is happening with teams at the highest level, staff are being stood down and it's hard financially for clubs," he said.

"If it's hard for them, country footy clubs are suffering too. Why can't we put up the drafting age and let these talented young players play with their local clubs in their late teens.

"Schooling is a factor for a lot of these kids and I think it'd be wonderful for the Hampden league if kids could play for their local clubs and help them get through what is a tough time.

"I think that'd create a lot of interest and excitement for country football."

Mugavin, a long-term coach at Hampden league level, said country football was vital in the makeup of Australian rules.

"If we don't have country football below the AFL, football will not develop at that top level," he said.

"It's going to be a different set up at that top level as well. People can say they develop better going into the system when they're 18 but clubs aren't likely to have as many staff when we get back to it.

"I'm sure some will come back into it but I don't think it will look like it did with (an abundance) of development coaches that can dedicate their time to young players."

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