North Melbourne star Tarryn Thomas has been handed a severe penalty by the AFL for his alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a woman. The 23-year-old midfielder will miss most of the 2024 season after the AFL Commission approved an 18-week suspension for him.
Thomas faces career crossroads after latest scandal
Thomas, who has played 69 games for the Kangaroos since being drafted in 2019, has been under investigation by the AFL Integrity Unit since January, when a complaint was made against him by a woman. The details of the allegations have not been made public, but they are understood to be serious enough to warrant a lengthy ban.
The AFL confirmed the suspension on Tuesday, saying it was in line with its Respect and Responsibility Policy and the AFL Player Rules. The AFL also said it would continue to provide support and education to Thomas and the woman involved.
Thomas is out of contract at the end of 2024 and his future at North Melbourne is now in doubt. He was reportedly on a $700,000 deal and was considered one of the club’s most talented players. However, he has also had a troubled history of off-field issues, including facing court in July for threatening to distribute intimate videos of his former partner. Those criminal charges were dropped by police, with Thomas dealt with by a diversion program.
North Melbourne supports AFL’s decision and Thomas’s welfare
North Melbourne said it accepted the AFL’s decision and would not appeal the suspension. The club also said it was committed to supporting Thomas’s welfare and helping him address his behaviour.
“North Melbourne Football Club respects the AFL’s decision to suspend Tarryn Thomas for 18 weeks,” the club said in a statement.
“We acknowledge the seriousness of the allegations and the impact they have had on the woman involved, as well as the broader community.
“We have been working closely with the AFL throughout the investigation and we will continue to do so.
“We are also focused on providing Tarryn with the appropriate support and education to ensure he learns from this experience and grows as a person.
“We recognise that this is a difficult time for everyone involved and we ask for their privacy to be respected.”
AFL community reacts to Thomas’s suspension
The AFL community has reacted with shock and disappointment to Thomas’s suspension, with many questioning his future in the game and his wasted potential.
Former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said Thomas was “one of the most wasted talents that we’ve ever seen in the game” and compared him to Harley Bennell, whose career was cut short by off-field indiscretions and injuries.
“He’ll (Thomas) be lost to football. He’ll be one of the most wasted talents that we’ve ever seen in the game,” Lloyd told 3AW radio.
Lloyd also said he had attended an off-the-record briefing at North Melbourne recently, where the club’s officials expressed their frustration with Thomas’s situation.
“You could sense the way they were talking (about Thomas) it has been a draining issue for them,” Lloyd said.
“It was left in the hands of the AFL, they were expecting to hear three weeks ago what was happening with Tarryn Thomas.”
7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary said Thomas’s suspension was a huge blow for North Melbourne, who had invested heavily in him and hoped he would be a key part of their rebuild.
“It’s a massive setback for the Kangaroos, who had big plans for Tarryn Thomas,” Cleary said.
“He was one of their highest-paid players, he was one of their most talented players, and he was one of their future leaders.
“But now he’s facing a long time on the sidelines and his career is very much at the crossroads.”
