North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas back in AFL program

A troubled North Melbourne star has ticked all the boxes to re-join his teammates and his captain is excited.

North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin has thrown his support behind troubled teammate Tarryn Thomas whose exile from the AFL program ended on Monday.

The career of the 23-year-old, who hasn’t played an AFL game since round 15 in 2022, had been in the balance after twice being stood down by the club and ordered to undertake significant education amid concerns about his behaviour towards women.

Thomas was charged in January with threatening to distribute an intimate image and faced court in March. The case will return to Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on July 18.

In February, he faced two counts of violating a court order, but those charges were dropped.

Having returned to the club’s VFL program, Thomas will take a huge step back towards an AFL return for the battling Kangaroos after being allowed to train with the main group under coach Alastair Clarkson.

“Tarryn has done everything he can outside the club to continue to get better and tick off what he has to,” Simpkin said on Monday.

“I’ve spoken to him a few times and I’m comfortable where he’s at and looking forward to having him back at the club.”

Despite a spate of injuries at the club, Simpkin said the likes of draftee George Wardlaw could be ahead of Thomas, who has played three VFL games, for an immediate AFL return.

"It represents where I'm from, my family and my community ... it's really special."

Designer Emma Bamblett takes us through the process to create 'Connecting Through Identity', which incorporates each of our First Nations players' totems 🐢#Kangaspic.twitter.com/1UpM8bacUn

— North Melbourne FC (@NMFCOfficial) May 8, 2023

Simpkin said there was “every chance” Wardlaw, the club’s second pick in last year’s draft, could finally get his AFL debut after some injury issues.

“When the ball is there to be won, the intensity and effort, he brings that,” Simpkin said.

“He’s a young guy, hopefully playing his first game soon, you can’t expect too much from him.

“But I’m excited to see what he could do.”

The Kangaroos have lost their past seven games, with the past three losses by a combined 190 points.

Simpkin conceded some efforts had “not been up to AFL standard” but was adamant that Clarkson had made them better than last season when they finished last.

“It’s a long process, we’re not just going straight to the top having Clarko on-board. It’s going to have its up and its down. We just have to continue to work hard and continue to get better,” he said.

“We’ve improved immensely. It feels like we are a lot better and close to clicking. If we clean up our own mistakes, we are a much better team.”

Originally published as North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas back in AFL program