Sacked St Kilda AFL recruit Andrew Lovett has been charged with a second count of rape over an incident in Melbourne on Christmas Eve.

Lovett, 27, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday for a committal mention hearing over the allegations.

He is charged with one count of raping a woman on Christmas Eve at Port Melbourne and a second count of digital rape at the same time and place.

Police laid the second charge against him on Friday.

The alleged victim, who cannot be identified, is an ex-girlfriend of another AFL player.

Magistrate Jack Vandersteen suppressed details of the case from publication to protect her identity.

Lovett was dressed in a charcoal suit and lilac shirt and sat next to a young woman.

Mr Vandersteen set a date of August 10 for his four-day committal hearing, which will determine whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial.

The midfielder made no comment as he left court.

Lovett was first charged on February 15 and sacked by St Kilda 24 hours later.

He is now planning legal action, with the court battle between Lovett and the AFL grievance tribunal possibly set for as early as next month.

The former Essendon player went to the tribunal asking that he be reinstated.

But the body stayed the case until the outcome of Lovett's criminal charges was known.

Lovett has taken the tribunal and its members Jack Rush QC, Kevin Power and James Dowsley, along with the St Kilda Football Club and the AFL, to the Victorian Supreme Court.

He wants the tribunal to hear the case immediately.

It is expected the matter will be heard in late June or early July.

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