Callum Urch, 29, who played eight games with North Melbourne, was arrested last March after investigators intercepted his phone and began following him.

Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Monday morning that Urch had trafficked a total of about 14 grams of cocaine in three transactions between New Years Eve and his arrest.

His solicitor Theo Magazis told the court Urch offended after he ceased playing in 2012 and then removed himself from the environment of football with its positive structures, regimes and support.

Mr Magazis said his client once had the "world at his feet" but persistent soft tissue injuries ruined his AFL career.

The court heard Urch had twice facilitated the purchase of cocaine by a surgeon and on third occasion he had sold the drug to a friend in a "social context".

Senior Constable Damon Hunter said in a summary that Urch, employed by the company that runs the Spirit of Tasmania, was a focus of the investigation into the supply and trafficking of cocaine.

Senior Constable Hunter said police believed Urch used a phone service in his mother's name to try to avoid law enforcement detection, but that investigators accessed SMS message exchanges on his mobile phone in which he used codes.

He told magistrate Sarah Dawes that Urch was seen by investigators on December 31 to approach a car in Albert Park and then walk away with a package that contained seven grams of cocaine he paid $2000 for.

He was then monitored in February passing cocaine to a man seated in a car and that after his arrest police searched his home where they found a bag containing cocaine and an extendable baton.

Urch pleaded guilty to four charges that included counts of trafficking and possessing cocaine.

Mr Magazis said Urch, supported in court by long-standing family friends - his mother is overseas but wrote a letter to the court - had committed serious offences but in isolated circumstances.

Mr Magazis said after a falling out between others over the supply of cocaine, Urch stepped in to "fill this breach" and agreed to do so out of "misguided loyalty".

He detailed a talented young footballer - Urch was an All Australian under 18s player - drafted at number 25 by North Melbourne in 2002 but whose career was dogged by soft tissue injuries before he was delisted in 2007.

He then joined Williamstown in the VFL and later played with Balwyn, but after he stopped playing last year he moved away from many of the positive friends and influences in football, Mr Magazis said.

His mood was low and he offended which had left him publicly shamed and embarrassed and has jeopardised his work as a stevedore.

A reference from North Melbourne club doctor Con Metropolis "spoke highly" of him, Mr Magazis said.

Ms Dawes told Urch he presented a difficult sentencing exercise, with a serious charge of trafficking in a community with drug issues, yet no evidence of enrichment or of any other offences within a five week period.

She accepted the offences occurred over an isolated period when he had left behind the support and structure of his football environment.

Ms Dawes also accepted that Urch had sound prospects of rehabilitation, which was already significantly advanced, and that his employment was under review pending the outcome of the court case.

She convicted Urch on all charges and for trafficking put him on an 18 month community corrections order with conditions he do 300 hours of unpaid community work and undergo assessment, treatment and rehabilitation as directed by the office of corrections.

He was fined $1000 on the other charges and must supply a forensic sample.