‘Walk the walk’: Clubs cast doubt over Tarryn Thomas’ AFL future as ex-North star faces fresh police investigation
‘Walk the walk’: Clubs cast doubt over Tarryn Thomas’ AFL future as ex-North star faces fresh police investigation
AFL clubs have cast further doubt over the future of former North Melbourne footballer Tarryn Thomas to return to the top level, with one club president calling on the league to show leadership by making a decision on his future.
One of three senior club figures contacted by this masthead said the league must “walk the walk” when taking a stand on issues such as violence against women after it emerged Thomas was facing fresh allegations he harassed a woman, just three months after he was sacked by the Kangaroos for similar behaviour.
Detectives are investigating the former player after receiving reports from a woman last month that the 24-year-old had harassed her via mobile phone.
The woman reported the harassment to police on April 11, sparking the ongoing investigation.
“Police are investigating after reports of harassing phone contact … and investigations into the incident remain ongoing,” a police spokesperson said on Friday.
AFL spokesperson Jay Allen said on Friday that the league had been made aware of the allegations, but did not specify when that was.
“As the matter is currently under investigation by police, the AFL doesn’t have any further comment at this time,” he said.
Thomas’ manager Ben Williams has been contacted for comment.
One president called on the AFL to “stand up and lead and not fudge around and handball it back to clubs”.
“If they half-heart it and say clubs can draft him but make sure he has to behave, what’s that saying?” said the club president, one of three sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“How would it be if the league said he can play and the 18 clubs said, ‘We disagree, we don’t want this bloke playing?’ Where’s that leave the league? What’s the point of the AFL and commission?
“The league has to lead on these issues. If they want to be what they say they are, part of the social justice in this country and do all these causes, you’ve got to walk the walk. They have control of whether Tarryn Thomas plays.”
Another club boss raised questions as to why Marlion Pickett could be allowed to play while facing burglary charges, yet Thomas had been suspended.
“Are we going to pick and choose which crimes are OK, and which ones aren’t,” this club president said.
This club president cast doubt on Thomas returning to the AFL next year, saying the player needed more time to prove he had rehabilitated.
“I don’t think it’d be appropriate to do eight weeks [of education], come back and say I’m good,” the president said.
“You’d need a reasonable period of evidence to show he can act in an appropriate way. Three to four months of good behaviour doesn’t cut it.”
A boss at a third club ruled out their club recruiting Thomas.
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