Former AFL footballer Majak Daw has been accused of raping a 15-year-old school friend when he was 16.

The woman who accuses Mr Daw told police that she tried to fight him off while she was held down and sexually assaulted, a jury has been told.

As the trial for the former North Melbourne footballer began in the County Court on Tuesday, judge Mark Dean told the jury the accused man was a "relatively well known" Sudanese-born AFL player but urged the jurors to dismiss any feelings of sympathy or prejudice they might have.

Mr Daw, 24, is charged with three counts of rape and accused of sexually assaulting the girl after they attended a party at an Altona Meadows house in March 2007.