Swans player Michael Talia pleads guilty to cocaine charge

Sydney AFL player Michael Talia has walked free from court with no conviction recorded after admitting possessing illicit drugs.

The Sydney Swans defender was caught with cocaine outside an eastern suburbs nightclub in July and pleaded guilty to a single charge of prohibited drug possession in Waverley Local Court today.

Magistrate Michael Barko handed the 23-year-old a 12-month good behaviour bond but did not record any conviction against him.

Outside court, the Clovelly man apologised to his club and to fans.

"I'm obviously very disappointed in my actions and looking forward to learning from this experience and hopefully putting it all behind me," he told reporters.

Sydney Swans general manager of football Tom Harley accompanied Talia to court.

"As a footy club we're obviously disappointed to be here today," Harley said outside the courthouse.

"Michael's very remorseful.

"As a club we continue to support Michael as we have over the past fortnight and move forward."

Documents tendered on Thursday reveal that plain-clothes officers spotted Talia and another man "loitering" outside the Casablanca Nightclub in Double Bay in the early hours of Sunday July 17.

"Police observed the accused holding an item in his hand which police believed was a small plastic resealable bag, a common form of packaging for prohibited drugs," the documents state.

"As police approached the accused, police observed the accused place his hand in his pants pocket. Due to the time, the location being well known for drug activity, as well as the observations of the accused, police formed the belief the accused was in possession of prohibited drugs."

A small plastic bag of cocaine, which weighed in at 0.73 grams, including the bag, was found in Talia's pocket.

But he told the officers: "It wasn't mine".

Mr Barko has ordered that the cocaine be destroyed.