Inside North Melbourne’s backflip on standing down Tarryn Thomas
In the space of eight hours, the script had been dramatically flipped for Tarryn Thomas. And one phone call changed it all for North Melbourne.
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It was the eight-hour window that brought about North Melbourne’s backflip on Tarryn Thomas.
Shortly after 1pm on Wednesday – just hours after Thomas fronted training at Arden St following allegations of threatening behaviour made by multiple women revealed exclusively in the Herald Sun – North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood vowed the club would keep the 22-year-old within its AFL program as it looked to address his “behaviour issues”.
By around 9pm that night, the script had been dramatically flipped.
A short, unsigned club statement explained that Thomas would be taking time away from the game, after all.
What transpired during the course of Wednesday, and more specifically between the Kangaroos’ first and second statements, turned out to be a myriad of meetings and conversations which has now put the North Melbourne star’s AFL career on hold indefinitely.
Ultimately, the trigger for the about-face was a phone call to the Herald Sun from a woman detailing further allegations of “abusive and manipulative behaviour” from Thomas late last year.
She had read the front-page Herald Sun report, and wanted to speak with the AFL.
By that stage, Thomas had completed a two-hour training session, having turned up to Arden St shortly after 7am, which may have been an effort to avoid the awaiting media.
As Thomas trained that morning, the Kangaroos hierarchy met to discuss what their response would be to the allegations raised by multiple women in Wednesday’s Herald Sun, which came on top of a separate charge of threatening to distribute an intimate image, laid in mid-January.
Dr Hood’s letter to members followed soon after training, stressing that North Melbourne was taking “allegation(s) of threats of violence against women extremely seriously”.
But she said the club would continue to provide support and training for Thomas, saying that had been the advice given to them by the AFL following the first allegation.
But even as Dr Hood’s letter to members was released, a fresh allegation was about to be raised.
A call was made to AFL headquarters early on Wednesday afternoon on behalf of the woman who was making the latest claim of “abusive and manipulative behaviour”.
A contact number was provided for AFL Integrity Unit, which the woman subsequently called.
That prompted a phone call from the league to North Melbourne late in the afternoon, which changed it all.
This was the trigger point for a series of conversations between the AFL and the Kangaroos, and was the catalyst for the decision to have Thomas take an indefinite break from football.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting he is guilty of the allegations only that they have been made.
Both the club and the league realised there was no other alternative than to have him step away until the allegations can be properly investigated, mindful that there could yet be more to come.
Kangaroos general manager of football Todd Viney went to Thomas’ home in the early evening to make him aware of what was about to happen, and the club had had detailed conversations with Thomas’ manager Ben Williams and the AFL Players Association.
A second club statement went out just after 9pm explaining Thomas was taking time away from the game, and stressing he would cooperate in any investigation into the allegations.
It was a decision that came 24 hours too late.
The club should have made this decision following the Herald Sun reports from multiple women which were released online late on Tuesday night.
Everyone rightly has the presumption of innocence in regard to accusations, but the serious nature of the allegations meant he shouldn’t have been training on Wednesday.
The club also should have had Dr Hood or the club’s new chief executive Jen Watt’s name on the second statement.
It’s hard to believe that this week marked exactly a year since Thomas signed a new two-year deal that was meant to take him from promising young footballer to one of the club’s most important players
Now 12 months on, his immediate future remains uncertain as the AFL prepares to investigate the numerous allegations about his off-field behaviour.
Roos vow to stand by Thomas as he steps away from the club
The AFL and North Melbourne on Wednesday backtracked on plans to keep star Tarryn Thomas at the club amid mounting allegations of harassment and intimidating behaviour.
After another woman came forward with claims against Thomas on Wednesday afternoon, the league and North Melbourne moved to announce that Thomas would be taking time away from the game
Until late on Wednesday night, North Melbourne had insisted Tarryn Thomas would remain within the club’s program, despite the growing allegations surrounding him.
Earlier, president Dr Sonja Hood told members Thomas was receiving training for his “behavioural issues” and would co-operate fully in any further investigations.
Just hours after the Herald Sun revealed multiple women had made detailed allegations to the AFL about Thomas, the 22-year-old was back on the training track at Arden St, taking part in a two-hour session.
In a letter sent to members, Dr Hood said the allegations made against Thomas were “serious and confronting”, stressing “we take any allegation of threats of violence against women extremely seriously.”
But Dr Hood said the club would support Thomas as he undertakes a “respectful relationships education” program.
“The club was aware of formal allegations made against Tarryn during 2022 that were investigated by the AFL’s Integrity Unit. Tarryn and the club co-operated fully with those investigations,” Dr Hood said.
“The advice provided by the AFL following these incidents was that Tarryn should undertake training and education to deal with his behavioural issues.
“The club has since built a significant and multi-layered program which includes respectful relationships education, working with psychologists, mentoring, peer support and community outreach for Tarryn to complete so he can meet North Melbourne’s values and community expectations.”
The club won’t make any further comment on the matter until the outcome of court proceedings over Thomas’ recent charge of threatening to distribute an intimate image.
“It’s also important to acknowledge that Tarryn is still to face a matter before the courts and as such we won’t be making any comment about that particular case,” Dr Hood said.
“Subject to any further investigations, the club will await the outcome of the court proceedings before confirming our next course of action.
“Finally, I know that this issue is challenging and confronting, and the club acknowledges the impact people will be feeling across the community by reading the media.
“We are committed to supporting our people through this time and I want to reiterate that our whole club understands the significance of this matter.”
WAS THOMAS TRYING TO DODGE THE CAMERAS?
Thomas arrived at the club’s Arden Street headquarters shortly after 7am, in what appeared to be an effort to avoid the TV cameras.
The 22-year-old would not comment on the allegations as he was photographed by the Herald Sun when he arrived at the club, nor when he took to the training track just over two hours later.
He took part in the spirited session along with his teammates
He has yet to face any disciplinary action from either the AFL or his club.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting the allegations against Thomas are true.
Thomas was charged earlier this month with threatening to distribute an intimate image following a three-month investigation.
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