Former AFL player Stephen Milne repeatedly tried to have sex with a woman despite her objections, a Melbourne court has been told.

Milne, 33, is facing four charges of rape over an incident at his former St Kilda teammate Leigh Montagna’s Highett home in March 2004.

Prosecutor David Cordy told a committal hearing that Milne started kissing and fondling the woman in a bedroom.

The woman thought it was Mr Montagna at the time, Mr Cordy told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Mr Cordy said she repeatedly pushed Milne away and told him no, but he persisted.

When a bedroom door was opened and the woman realised it was Milne, she immediately retreated to a bathroom with her friend, Mr Cordy said.

Mr Cordy said Mr Montagna sent a text message the next day to the woman saying “sorry about what happened last night, I thought you knew it was him and not me”.