The AFL has launched an investigation into allegations by former Richmond player Ben Holland that he is owed $530,000 by the Tigers.

League boss Andrew Demetriou said football operations manager Adrian Anderson would look into the issue.

"I've spoken to Adrian Anderson this morning and he'll speak to Ben Holland and obviously he'll speak to other relevant parties," Demetriou told Fairfax News Network.

Holland has launched a Supreme Court writ against Richmond and former Tigers president Clinton Casey over what he claims are unpaid payments, dating from a contract he signed with the club in 2001.

Holland claims he was offered incentives on top of an $800,000, three-year contract he signed with the Tigers to keep him at the club and resist a $1.33 million offer to join Adelaide for three years, in allegations that may include salary cap breaches.

Demetriou said he had been aware of the alleged deal since he met with Richmond and Holland in 2002 but thought it had been resolved.

"The issue back then was that he was being offered allegedly $1.3 million from Adelaide, so we have to ascertain whether that's true.

"And then he was offered a significantly less amount from Richmond and he decided to stay at Richmond."

Demetriou said he had then met with Holland and Richmond to discuss how Holland could be paid.

"The issue back then was, was there a way that, under the rules of the salary cap, whether Richmond Football Club could pay him any more - and the answer was no.

"That was the rules and that was the AFL's position as it would (be) for any player."

Demetriou said he was not aware of any alleged deals such as land and work offers for Holland.

"I had a meeting with Ben Holland and Mark Brayshaw who was the then CEO about this matter back when I was general manager of football operations and when they left my office I thought this was a dead issue," Demetriou said.

"I was surprised when it surfaced, I understand he's lodged a Supreme Court writ.

"If it's true, and he's got a writ which I'm sure based on my information from back then, Clinton Casey will contest - and then it's a matter for the courts."

However, if the claims were true, they would breach the AFL salary cap rules, he said.

"Yes it would be, you can't do that," he said.

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