FORMER Richmond player Jake King is locked in a legal battle with the AFL, seeking compensation for a career-ending injury.

King retired at the end of 2014 after eight seasons, failing to get over a toe injury he sustained early in that year.

He is claiming his foot was stomped on during the round three match against Western Bulldogs which ultimately proved to be his last AFL game.

It is also understood King's claims mention the round 10 match against West Coast in 2013 where he injured his foot, only to play the remainder of the season.

The matter is being run by the AFL Players' Association.

"I don't want to comment about the specifics of my situation but I would like to thank the AFLPA who have been outstanding in looking after players on these matters," King told Channel Nine.

The toe has been fused to his foot and has resulted in seven surgeries, the most recent on Wednesday.

He is seeking a six-figure compensation, and if successful, his payout will come from an AFL Insurance Policy.

The AFL has sought for its own medical department to undertake an independent assessment on King's injuries. For King's request to be honoured, he must convince the AFL the injury was not pre-existing.

Should King be compensated, it would open the door for fellow retirees to lodge their own applications.

"There is no coverage, there's nothing there to protect the players," Essendon captain Jobe Watson said.

"The health and medical wellbeing of players is something I think will move towards being of greater importance.

"You look at past players now and the injuries that everyone gets out of the game with, these are lifelong and there's 50 years of your life to live after you've finished playing.

"If you have a major back surgery with four years to remain, that becomes a problem for you, six or seven years down the track."

King is one of a few past players to make such a claim. It is believed Jason Snell, Jesse Smith and Bowen Lockwood have lodged similar requests in the past.