Former Geelong AFL player Matthew Egan is suing two doctors over the treatment of a foot injury that ended his playing career.

Egan suffered a stress fracture to his right foot in September 2007, which was operated on a few days later.

After a stand-out season that saw him picked in the All-Australian side, the injury forced him to miss the Cats' premiership win later that year and he did not play another AFL game.

Egan, who is now an assistant coach at Essendon, is suing Mark Blackney, a foot surgeon, and Chris Bradshaw, a club doctor, for negligence.

Senior associate at Slater and Gordon's medical law department Nick Mann said the consequences of the surgery were devastating for his client.

"He was in the 2007 Geelong team which went on to win a premiership, 2009 and 2011 were premiership years for Geelong and he was absolutely a part of that team and a real emerging star of the AFL," he said.

"As a young player in his early 20s, [this is] a career cut short because of the treatment that was provided.

"Essentially this is, at its base, a case about a patient who didn't receive proper advice and management."

In a Supreme Court writ, Egan claimed the surgery did not work and he had to have six further operations on his foot, leading to ongoing pain and disability.

Egan's lawyers argue the two doctors failed to inform their client of the risks of the surgery, and of the likelihood of him returning to play for the Cats in the 2007 grand final.

The lawyers say 15 days after the surgery, Egan suffered pain in his foot and was told to stop the rehabilitation program.

Egan declined to be interviewed while the case was before the court.

A spokeswoman for the Geelong Cats confirmed Dr Bradshaw was still the club doctor, but declined to comment on the case.