Tarryn Thomas sacked by North Melbourne after 18-match ban from AFL

Tarryn Thomas has been sacked by North Melbourne hours after it was confirmed he had been banned for 18 matches due to being found guilty of multiple misconduct charges.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Tarryn Thomas of the Kangaroos runs laps during a North Melbourne Kangaroos AFL training session at Arden Street Ground on November 17, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

• Ralph: Thomas a test case on AFL’s moral standards

North Melbourne has sacked Tarryn Thomas and commended the bravery of the woman who revealed his online threats as the top 10 draft pick was banned from senior AFL football this year.

The Roos on Thursday brokered a deal that allowed them to fully cut ties with their prodigiously talented star after the league suspended him for 18 AFL matches.

North Melbourne drew a line in the sand as president Sonja Hood said of Thomas: “He is now out of chances”.

The Herald Sun revealed on Monday the Roos would seek to cut ties with Thomas as they desperately try to improve their culture under coach Alastair Clarkson and the club’s new hierarchy.

SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL STATEMENTS FROM THE AFL, NORTH MELBOURNE AND AFLPA

Thomas was found guilty of multiple acts of misconduct that involved threatening a woman and suspended under the league’s rules governing conduct unbecoming.

He cannot play football at any level until July 22, cannot play in the 2024 AFL premiership season and must convince the AFL he has successfully completed a behavioural change program.

Roos football boss Todd Viney labelled the decision a “circuit breaker” for a club that had endured Thomas’ string of allegations since the start of 2023.

“I can’t read into Tarryn’s mind, but from my point of view there are two Tarryns. There is the one you see day to day and the one when he is in a relationship and when he has some troubles in dealing with relationship issues,” Viney said.

“I spoke in the middle of last year. You behave yourself in or you behave yourself out and unfortunately for Tarryn and his behaviour, he has behaved himself out.”

While the Roos acted after a third set of allegations of offensive behaviour towards women, his football career is not necessarily over.

Clubs including Collingwood and Essendon were interested in his services last year before he decided to recommit to the Roos on the last year of a $700,0000 contract.

So he will need to prove to football clubs — and their boards — that he has genuinely changed when he could not do so despite so many chances at Arden Street.

The club’s decision means they cannot secure a trade for him if another club picks him up but it will be a small price to pay to get him out of their program as they attempt to improve their culture.

Viney said he hoped Thomas would not be lost to football.

“Every AFL club will make their own call. We tried our best and couldn’t get it done so we will leave it up to each club to make a decision. It would be a shame if he didn’t play football again,” he said.

Roos chief executive Jen Watt said Thomas, who paid a $1000 fine last year after serious charges of threatening to post an intimate video of his partner were downgraded, had run out of chances.

“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.”

Hood told the club’s members that the female involved deserved better from Thomas as she applauded her bravery in launching a complaint to the AFL.

Tarryn Thomas leaves AFL house after speaking with investigators in January. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“Tarryn came back to the club midway through last year pledging to be better,” she said.

“We are all bitterly disappointed that he has relapsed. And he is now out of chances.

Last year he was afforded the privilege of doing his intensive education and rehabilitation programs within the structure of our footy club. From here he’ll have to find that structure elsewhere.

“We’ll continue working with the AFL, the Players Association and Tarryn’s manager and his support network to ensure that he gets the help he needs to be better. But he won’t play for the North Melbourne Football Club again.

“Out of respect for her privacy I won’t say anything about the woman who brought these allegations to the AFL other than to commend her bravery and the dignity with which she has handled herself throughout this process. She deserved better.”

Thomas must fund the behavioural change program, which must be approved by the AFL.

If he can prove to the AFL that he has made sufficient change he could still attempt to play the final weeks of the VFL season in a bid to prove his football abilities.

The new list rules which allow clubs to trial players across summer might also allow him to train on at a second team in a bid to kickstart his career.

Thomas is only 23, and while his career is on life support AFL clubs continue to give troublesome players second chances in a bid to win premierships despite the inherent risks.