"I was drafted as an 18-year-old and I was too young," he told Nine News Perth.

"There's a risk of robbing young men of at least one or two important years of their life's development

"I believe 19 or even 20 is the right age to be drafted."

Pavlich played 18 games in his first year at Fremantle, but said he wasn't mature enough to absorb it all.

The former Docker has used the NFL and NBA systems in America as examples, which draft players at an older age than the AFL.

He said drafting players at the age of 19 or 20 opens the door for more life experience by giving players the chance to work or study full time.

"A broader perspective on life is critical to long term success in the game.

"I've seen too many young players who have come up through our junior development programs enter the AFL system not mature enough to handle it both on and off the field."

The idea Pavlich has put forward is a second tier competition, such as a modified AFL reserves, along with a national elite under 20 competition, with the AFL as the premier league.

The 35-year-old is the current president of the AFL players association and said this was his personal view, not that of the association.

"We worry so much about the transition out of the game and are all to quick highlight stories of past players who have fallen on hard times,

"So let's get the transition into the game right to begin with."

Matthew Pavlich will be on Nine News Perth every Monday and Thursday.