Hawthorn's Tyrone Vickery is set to launch legal action against his former business partner after the footballer was arrested for allegedly threatening him over a six-figure debt.
Former Richmond hardman Jake King, a friend of Vickery's, has been charged with making threats to kill over the alleged extortion attempt.
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Jake King charged with making threats to kill
Former Richmond hardman Jake King has been charged with making threats to kill over an alleged extortion attempt involving Tyrone Vickery.
Vickery is also expected to make a formal complaint to Victoria Police against Tony Mokdissi, a business partner in his Hawthorn East restaurant Fat Monkey, over allegations of serious criminal offences.
Lawyers for the Hawthorn forward are set to launch civil proceedings against Mr Mokdissi over his alleged failure to repay a debt of $150,000.
It is understood Vickery asked King to intervene in the dispute, and audio recordings of the alleged threats were subsequently provided to police. The pair were arrested on Wednesday.
King, 33, has been charged with extortion with threats to kill, making threats to kill, two counts of threats to inflict serious injury and two counts of using a carriage service to harass. Vickery was released without charge.
Mr Mokdissi, who goes by several first names, has left a string of creditors in his wake following a series of failed hospitality ventures and unsuccessful investments in at least two racehorses.
One default judgment against Mr Mokdissi in the Magistrates Court last year showed he owed BMW's financing arm $64,327. Another unpaid debt to a food wholesaler totalled $38,859.
It is understood Vickery knew Mr Mokdissi through his restaurant, Little Tony's Pizza, on Queens Parade in Clifton Hill.
Mr Mokdissi sold that business in 2015 before taking over Fat Monkey with Vickery.
A Facebook post from October 2015 said Fat Monkey was under new management, but Vickery is said to have become concerned when Mr Mokdissi failed to follow up on his financial investment.
Suspicious that money had disappeared, Vickery called in auditors in September, leading to the discovery of $150,000 in allegedly missing funds. Mr Mokdissi denied any involvement.
Suppliers also claimed they had not been paid by Vickery's business, which was put up for sale in recent months.
The restaurant was listed at $145,000 in March, but the price was most recently slashed to less than $40,000.
Before the real estate agent deleted the ad on Thursday morning, it said the restaurant was taking in $20,000 a week and was "perfect for an experienced operator to bring a different cuisine".
Vickery, 27, told associates he had raised his concerns with police, but when he was dissatisfied with the response, it is alleged he enlisted King to recover the funds.
It is unclear whether Vickery did report his suspicions to police, as other sources claim he told them he feared the attention, given his profile, and the damage it could do to the business.
King's lawyer, John Gdanski, said his client would be "defending these allegations vigorously".
Vickery is regularly spotted at his restaurant working as a waiter and in the kitchen.
His wife, Arina Rodionova – the only Australian tennis player still in action at Wimbledon this week – last year told The Age the pair enjoyed being hands-on in the business.
Vickery has been much maligned in his first season at Hawthorn, having found himself in and out of the side as coach Alastair Clarkson attempted to rebuild with several off-season recruits.
He has not played for the Hawks in more than a month, after being dropped following their loss to Port Adelaide in round 11.
Vickery had been studying a law degree at Victoria University.
Fairfax Media was unable to contact Mr Mokdissi.
With Jon Pierik and Michael Gleeson