AFL player agent sued over rivalry

High-profile AFL player manager Liam Pickering is being sued by his former business partner after leaving the company and taking 31 of the game's most well-known players and coaches with him.

Strategic Management Australia AFL owner Jason Sourasis says in May 2014 Pickering quit the company, in which he had a 40 per cent share, to set up his own company, Precision Sports Entertainment Group.

Mr Sourasis claims he lost millions when players and coaches including Lance "Buddy" Franklin, Gary Ablett Jnr and Dane Swan terminated their contracts with SMAFL and followed Pickering to his new venture.

Player agents usually receive two to four per cent of player or coach deals with AFL clubs, and 20 per cent of their endorsements.

Barrister David Denton QC, acting on behalf of Mr Sourasis, told the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday that Pickering and another agent, James Pitcher, benefited from deals made while working for SMAFL.

They couldn't have completed many of the deals, including Franklin's rumoured $10 million contract, without the capacity of the company or its employees, he said.

Pickering, a former Geelong Cats player, is counter-suing Mr Sourasis claiming he was lured to join SMAFL under false pretences.

He also alleges Mr Sourasis engaged in deceptive misconduct including facilitating loans to family members from the company's account - a claim his former business partner says was above board and paid back, with interest.

The trial before Justice Michael Sifris, which is expected to stretch over two weeks, continues.