North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas sacked, AFL career likely over
Tarryn Thomas’ AFL fate has been confirmed, with the former star midfielder sensationally dumped by North Melbourne.
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Tarryn Thomas’ suspension has been confirmed and North Melbourne has acted quickly by sacking the former star midfielder.
Thomas’ mooted 18-game ban has been confirmed over fresh allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman in January this year.
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The Kangaroos have responded by releasing a statement confirming Thomas has been sacked as a result.
North “accepts the AFL’s findings and endorses their sanction”, the statement reads, and the club “has informed Thomas that he will no longer be a North Melbourne player”.
North Melbourne chief executive Jennifer Watt said the club had been left with little choice after his latest indiscretion.
“The club has provided Tarryn with significant time, resources and support but we’ve now arrived at a point where the individual’s needs don’t match those of the club,” Watt said.
“We know Tarryn needs help – for himself and for the women in his life – but it’s clear the path we’ve taken over the past 12 months hasn’t had the desired impact.
“To that end, we have made the decision to end Tarryn’s time at North Melbourne.
“This decision doesn’t come lightly or easily. We brought Tarryn to the club as a teenager and we acknowledge that he has faced complex and challenging circumstances over his life.
“We hope Tarryn will find the support that is right for him and that he does the work required to be the best version of himself.”
The 23-year-old had been training away from teammates since the new allegations emerged.
North Melbourne general manager of football Todd Viney, who will front a press conference later on Thursday, said in the statement Thomas had run out of chances.
“Tarryn’s ongoing behaviour was not compatible with the club’s or the team’s values,” Viney said.
“We’ve channelled many hours into helping Tarryn and seeking to rehabilitate him – for his sake and for the sake of those his behaviour has impacted.
“Ultimately, though, it’s our responsibility to put time and effort into the people who are committed to taking the club forward.”
Further statements have been released on Thursday from North president Sonja Hood and the AFL Players’ Association (AFLPA).
Hood released a letter addressed to the club’s members, stating she is “bitterly disappointed” in Thomas.
“Right now, like many of our North Melbourne people, I’m feeling a range of emotions – frustration, anger, disappointment but overall, sadness,” Hood wrote in part.
“This wasn’t a decision based on emotion – it was driven by incontrovertible, uncontested facts – but I want to be clear it wasn’t, and isn’t, easy.
“Our duty of care to Tarryn and to the wider community meant we chose to work with him to address his behaviours, particularly in regard to his treatment of women.
“It was a complex and difficult situation but we were all united in our determination to get the best outcomes for Tarryn and those around him.
“Tarryn came back to the club midway through last year pledging to be better.
“We are all bitterly disappointed that he has relapsed. And he is now out of chances.
“He won’t play for the North Melbourne Football Club again.”
Hood ended by commending the “bravery and dignity” of the woman who brought the allegations forward to the AFL.
The AFLPA released a short four-line statemement stating “disrespectful behaviour towards women, in any form, is unacceptable” and that the Association will provide Thomas with access to tools to assist him.
Thomas was questioned at AFL House in January after a fresh allegation of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman was taken to the league’s integrity unit.
He had been stood down from North Melbourne once again after the club had acted twice in 2023 – first in February and again in March after he failed to show “sufficient progress” in mandatory behavioural training, which had been one of the conditions of his return to the club.
“Any decision in relation to a sanction or otherwise with Tarryn Thomas will be a decision taken by the general counsel of the AFL – the commission will be updated and made aware of it, but it will be a decision for the general counsel Stephen Meade,” AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Wednesday.
“It’s a complex and complicated issue with potentially quite severe consequences and we’ve also got a complainant there who we’re really mindful of their welfare.
“There’s not a timeline on it … we just want to make sure that the investigation affords due process but also consideration to all involved.”
North Melbourne assistant Jed Adcock said the Roos’ coaching staff were not planning for the midfielder to play.
“Right now we can only focus on the players that are there,” Adcock said.
“There are people at the club that are looking after that. We can only look after the (remaining) players that are at the club still.
“If we start taking our energy away from those guys, it is unfair to them.
“Tarryn is getting looked after, there are people looking after them, but our job is to look after the guys that are there.”
He fronted court in July after threatening to distribute intimate content of his former partner in 2022, but avoided a conviction and was ordered to pay $1000 to charity.
The former No. 8 pick returned to the senior program in May and played the final 12 games of the AFL season.
He has played a total of 69 games since making his debut in 2019.
The club stated while Thomas will no longer be a North Melbourne player, he will continue to have medical and mental health support available.
Originally published as North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas sacked, AFL career likely over
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