North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas to be slapped with monster AFL suspension

A North Melbourne star is set to be handed a monster suspension by the AFL that would see him wiped out for the bulk of the 2024 season.

Thomas hit with 18-week suspension. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Reports have emerged that North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas has been slapped with a monster 18-week suspension by the AFL.

However, the AFL has been quick to deny that a decision has been handed down, even though it appears Thomas will be wiped out for more than half the season at least.

The Kangaroos midfielder was under investigation by the league over fresh allegations of domestic violence in mid-January.

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On Monday, Channel 9’s chief football reporter Tom Morris reported the league had hit the star with an 18-week suspension following it’s investigation.

If the ban is 18-weeks as Morris reports, it means Thomas won’t be available to play in the 2024 season until round 20 at the earliest, leaving him with four games to prove he’s worthy of another contract.

Exclusive - North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas has received an 18-week suspension from the AFL.@FootyonNine@wwos@9NewsMelb

— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) February 19, 2024

Morris’ report claims the AFL Commission had “ratified the penalty, which will be served in its entirety”.

Those reports were contradicted by the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph who noted that the AFL “had not come to a resolution on the Thomas matter yet”.

The AFL added that the investigation is continuing.

However, the Herald Sun report does concede “it would not surprise if a figure as high as 18 weeks had been discussed among all parties”.

As North Melbourne brace for the AFL’s official decision to be handed out, Thomas continues to train separately from the team.

Kangaroos football boss Todd Viney told the Herald Sun that details of the most recent allegations against Thomas hadn’t been shared to the club.

“The reality is we haven’t had the information of what has happened on this last investigation,” Viney said.

“We will take our time to have a look at that (the findings) and see what the AFL has found and have some time to think about our next position.”

Thomas leaves AFL House after being interviewed. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Thomas was summoned to AFL headquarters in January to speak with the league’s integrity unit over the latest allegations.

The 23-year-old Thomas was suspended last February amid accusations he had made “serious and confronting” threats of violence towards women.

He was also criticised for a deleted video which showed him driving dangerously, with his feet up on the dashboard while straddling two lanes on a drive between Sydney and Melbourne.

In July, a charge was dropped after he agreed to donate $1000 to charity, having been charged with threatening to distribute an intimate image of another person.

“You have obviously taken this matter very seriously,” Magistrate Julie Grainger said, accepting Thomas had taken responsibility for his actions and was working to change.

“You have worked really hard to better yourself.”

A talented midfielder, Thomas has played 69 games for North Melbourne after being picked up as No. 8 in the 2018 national draft.

He is out of contract at the end of the 2024 season.

Originally published as North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas to be slapped with monster AFL suspension