Former Melbourne and Fremantle midfielder Colin Sylvia has admitted to filming a woman while she slept in her Melbourne apartment.

The 32-year-old former AFL player appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to contravening a court order and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

Sylvia sent abusive text messages to the woman, who was known to him, according to court documents.

He also tried to climb her balcony but left after she confronted him and called police.

Hours later, Sylvia returned, scaled the balcony and went into an empty apartment next door to the victim.

Police later found photos and videos of the woman sleeping on Sylvia’s mobile phone.

Sylvia was drafted to Melbourne Football Club in 2003 where he played more than 150 games, before moving to Fremantle in 2014.

The footballer retired from the game in 2015.

He is due to return to court on January 22.

-AAP