McGrath played 149 matches and was a member of two premierships for the Hawks before travelling around Australia and settling on the Sunshine Coast.

The nagging defender hopes players won't hesitate in taking match payment cuts when football returns after the coronavirus crisis.

"Back in our day you might have got a couple of free beers every now and then but that's about it," McGrath said.

"We were happy playing with mates and it sort of made you feel proud representing the town where you came from.

"You had a chance to play with blokes who you grew up watching as well.

"When I was a kid I watched the Des Richardsons and Vin O'Neills while I ran the boundary.

"Later on we had an opportunity to play with them and that made you feel 10-foot tall.

"If you had an opportunity to play with players from the Ovens and Murray or higher leagues it was just an honour."

While McGrath has a strong association with Caboolture after being involved in its 2011 reserve grade premiership, he misses the rivalry and mateship of the Tallangatta league.

"I always still miss down home because after games the clubs always had beers together and in Queensland that doesn't happen too much," he said.

"Once you finish everyone pretty much packs up and you leave.

"You miss out on making mates.

"You mightn't have liked some blokes you played against on the ground but you'd always catch up for a beer after the game and got on well.

"Inter-league football was the same ... we had some big nights after a few of them."

McGrath's attachment to Kiewa-Sandy Creek is still strong with the backman returning to the Border as part of his 50^th birthday celebrations to watch the Hawks in action.

"I brought down a group of mates and they had a ball," he said.

"The club looked after them which made me feel proud to be honest.

"You don't forget things like that."

AFL NEB region general manager John O'Donohue said there had been a positive response to the salary cap cuts with Wodonga Saints' Gerard Midson the first coach to publicly state he would lead for free if football starts after May 31.

Salary cap restrictions will continue in 2021 with clubs advised to renegotiate contracts.