AFL legend Leigh Matthews has also called on the AFL to deliver a 'development state tax' to players earning under a certain amount of money.

Matthews, now on the board of the Brisbane Lions, said the four northern state clubs (Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, and GWS) were all still expansion clubs in the grand scheme of things.

Statistics show the four northern state clubs are still most at risk of losing players to homesickness, with 96 percent of drafted players coming from outside Queensland and New South Wales.

The Lions have been particularly hammered in recent years, with figures gathered by advocacy group The Lion's Roar showing 10 of their past 19 first round draft picks left for homesickness.

The average departing from Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian clubs for the same reason, is two, says the group.

At the moment the Sydney Swans, Gold Coast and GWS all have access to money outside the salary cap to help retain their players.

Aside from levelling up the salary cap of all 18 clubs, Matthews has a solution to help the northern markets retain their players.

"I've thought for a long time, the four northern state clubs should all have the same salary cap, exactly the same salary cap, but players playing in those four clubs, maybe up to a salary of $400,000 … you get a 10 percent development state payment from the AFL, direct from the AFL to the player," he said.

"The salary cap the four clubs have got to distribute is exactly the same. That's my solution."

One small advantage Matthews says the northern states must retain, is the academies set-up by each club.

At the weekend, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was reported as saying those academies further diluted the talent pool, with the northern states getting first access to players from their own backyard.

Matthews said it was a minimal advantage, but essential to grow the game.

"We can say to a 13 year-old, 'if you're good enough to play AFL, we'll get first option on your services, so stick with us'.

"Prior to that, the (NRL team Brisbane) Broncos could go to that 13 year-old and say 'come to our development squad and you can play for us'.

"We're hoping more of the teenagers will choose to play our sport.

"Yes, the ones in our area, we get first choice on them, but only under the same basis as the father-son rule, so you get a little bonus but not a massive one.

"You get first option, but the bidding system means you'll pay about what he's worth."