Damian Cupido, 35, faced Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to menace after he sent threatening text messages to a former partner in August 2015.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Anna Hanlon said Cupido claimed the woman owed him money when he sent the threatening messages.

"He gave her a deadline to pay it by," Senior Constable Hanlon said.

In the messages the former AFL player said "I'm glad I kept those photos of you for a time like this".

In further messages Cupido made disparaging comments about the woman, including "rank slut", "ice queen" and promised the photos would "go viral you crack whore" unless she paid him the money he claims to have been owed.

The victim reported the matter to police, and Cupido was later interviewed.

Cupido's lawyer said his client should not receive a conviction as he was a gifted footballer with a career ahead of him, and he had no criminal history.

"What he wrote was vile and totally unnecessary," the lawyer said.

He explained that the offending came at a time of loneliness and financial stress for Cupido.

Magistrate Peter Mithen said the messages Cupido sent were "vile and reprehensible" and as an elite sportsman it was his responsibility to be a good role model for the community.

"There is extra pressure on you because of your reputation, and you need to be able to live up to that," Magistrate Mithen said.

He placed Cupido on a $500 good behaviour bond, with no conviction, and urged Cupido to be a positive influence on younger players in any role he has in the future.

"You can hear what is being said in the rooms and steer them in the right way," he said.

"You can become a mentor is you aren't already."

Cupido played in the AFL from 2000 to 2005 for the Brisbane Lions and later the Essendon Bombers.

He joined Bacchus Marsh last year, helping the club win it’s maiden Ballarat Football League premiership.

He is no longer at the club.

Shepparton News