Byron Pickett: Broke footy legend who once earned almost $300,000 a season opens up about having to explain to his kids why he doesn't own a house or car after stellar 11-year career

Footy great Byron Pickett has opened up about his heartbreaking financial troubles since retiring, and having to explain to his children why he doesn't own a car or a house.

The dual premiership star who played for North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Melbourne was a human-highlight reel in his prime, with his bone-rattling bumps and huge kicks giving opponents nightmares.

While playing for Port, he was getting paid almost $284,000 a season before tax, but nowadays Pickett has nothing to show for his 11-year career.

The 46-year-old West Australian still rents, doesn't own a car and had to explain to his kids where all the money went.

'The kids asked me over the years: "Where's the money? What happened? What did you do?",' Pickett told The Advertiser.

'Dad, you played AFL for 11 years but we don't even have a car, we don't have a house. Where's all the money gone?

'I didn't have an answer for them.'

The footy champ claims his former agent Kym Richardson stole more than $250,000 in cash from him - and Pickett is now taking legal action against the AFL Players' Association, claiming that its duty of care to him was breached.

Pickett alleges Richardson withdrew $253,920 without his permission from a bank account opened in trust for him in December 2001. 

'Kym had sole control over the ATM card, chequebook and internet banking for the Pickett account,' a statement of claim lodged with the South Australian Supreme Court alleges.

The footballer is accusing his former agent of profiting from real estate deals that he didn't understand.

Pickett intends to 'get back what I deserve' and will continue the legal action.

'I'm not actually doing it for myself,' he said. 'I'm doing it for my kids, for my family.'

Richardson has said the allegations against him are 'absolutely false'.

'I respected Byron and looked after him tremendously, even saving or resurrecting his AFL playing career on a number of occasions,' he said.

'To the best of my knowledge as a considerable time period has elapsed, Byron looked after his own finances from his first year in 1997 through to 2001. The trust was only opened in 2001.' 

The big-game player starred in 204 AFL games, and was a huge part of flag-winning seasons for the Kangaroos in 1999 and Port in 2004. 

He won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the Power's 2004 grand final victory over Brisbane and is a proud member of the Indigenous Team of the Century.

Pickett retired after playing the 2007 season with the Demons, ending his career with 204 games and 177 goals to his name.