Sacked St Kilda footballer Andrew Lovett has appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to face rape charges.

The former Saints recruit made his first appearance in court flanked by a female friend and his manager.

The 27-year-old is alleged to have raped a woman in Port Melbourne on Christmas Eve.

The allegations resulted in the forward being immediately suspended from the club. The Saints then sacked him the day after he was charged.

Lovett is now considering legal action against the club.

As the former Essendon player left the court a fan handed him a picture with a message of support, before he was swamped by media.

He remained silent as questions were fired at him.

He will return to court in May.