A former Adelaide Crows AFL player has launched legal action against the club, its team doctors and other medical experts after he retired prematurely from the game due to concussion.

Sam Shaw, 27, was forced to hang up the boots in 2016 after seven seasons when he failed to overcome the effects of a head knock sustained in a lower league match.

Former Adelaide player Sam Shaw is suing over concussion sustained in a lower league match. Credit:Sebastian Costanzo

The legal battle comes as yet another AFL player was forced to retire early this week because of the ongoing health impacts after concussion. Western Bulldogs premiership hero Liam Picken announced on Monday that he would not play again for the club after he was unable to recover from multiple hits to the head.

Shaw did not play add to his tally of 24 matches for the Crows after suffering a concussion during a game for Adelaide's reserves side in the early rounds of the 2016 South Australian National Football League season.