AFL 2023: Tarryn Thomas makes bizarre claim after derailing North Melbourne return

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has delivered a pointed message to Tarryn Thomas following the troubled North Melbourne star’s latest head-scratching actions.

Tarryn Thomas’ career remains under a cloud. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty

North Melbourne’s troubled star Tarryn Thomas has claimed he is doing all he can to return to football as his latest social media post was labelled “a cry for help”.

Thomas was finalising a plan to return to North Melbourne as recently as last week but a bizarre and poorly timed social media post has again derailed his career.

Thomas is back to square one after posting on his private Instagram feed a photo of him driving down the highway with his legs on the centre console with the hashtag #livingmybestlife.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Wednesday that “Tarryn has got to make a decision about what he wants to do with his future”.

But the Roos will continue to work with their top-10 pick on his recovery, having stated that it “continues to assess Thomas’ progress towards meeting club and community expectations”.

Thomas said on Wednesday he was trying to change his behaviour ahead of an upcoming court case for threatening to distribute an intimate image.

He made the claim as he showcased the clothing brand of a personal training company in a private gym.

Tarryn Thomas’ career remains under a cloud. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty

“I am very desperate to get back to the game I love and playing with my best friends. I can’t wait to get back,” Thomas told Seven News.

“I am doing everything I can to get back and the club is helping me and directing me. There are a lot of people outside the club trying to get help and the club is doing an amazing job for me.”

McLachlan was quizzed on how many chances Thomas could receive and still stay in the AFL but said it was up to the 23-year-old to change his ways.

“I think it’s pretty clear from North Melbourne. I would echo it that Tarryn has got to make a decision about what he wants to do with his future,” he said.

“He either comes back into the community in the fold and delivers on AFL and club standards as well as community expectations or he won’t participate. I think North has said that. And I certainly agree with what their position is.

Tarryn Thomas Instagram video.

Tarryn Thomas leaves Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

“I think it’s out of his hands at the moment until he actually shows that he’s willing to actually come back into the fold properly in a committed way.”

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said the Roos should continue to support Thomas off the field but was worried by what some commentators saw as the last straw.

“I saw the last post as a cry for help,” Buckley told SEN.

“He surely knows that he’s drawing attention to himself for the wrong reasons once more. And I think he needs a lot of care and a lot of support. But you don’t get a god given right to be a part of an AFL organisation.

“He’s got a lot of life to live beyond whatever his football career looks like. He’s got to make decisions for himself and for the people that love him based on that and I think North Melbourne are doing the right thing to help him do that.”

Originally published as AFL 2023: Tarryn Thomas makes bizarre claim after derailing North Melbourne return