Season 2024 - North Melbourne

Football Discussion Non Essendon Stuff
285

From the HS article

AFL STATEMENT ON TARRYN THOMAS

The AFL wishes to advise that North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas has been found guilty of several breaches of the AFL Rule 2.3(a) (Conduct Unbecoming).

Thomas has been suspended for 18 AFL matches and has been suspended from participating in any other football competition at any level until 22 July 2024.

As a result of this finding, Thomas will no longer be a North Melbourne player and will not be eligible to play at all in the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

Before returning to football at any level Thomas must have undertaken and/or be satisfactorily progressing with a behavioural change program.

In respect of the behavioural change program:

  • The behavioural change program needs to be approved in advance by the AFL;
  • Thomas and / or the provider of the behavioural change program will need to report to the AFL on the adherence and progress with the program.
  • Thomas will personally bear the cost of the behavioural change program.

After being alerted by a complaint through the AFL portal in late January, Thomas was interviewed by AFLIU investigators on 29 January 2024. It was ultimately determined by the AFL that Thomas had engaged in multiple acts of misconduct including threatening a woman via direct messages multiple times.

In determining the sanction, the AFL took into account the evidence over a period of time which included Thomas engaging in misconduct while he was undertaking education in 2023 to deal with similar behaviours from earlier that year.

AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said, “Tarryn’s conduct does not represent behaviours acceptable to anyone in our game or our community and his actions were not of a standard that the game or the public expect.

“While we understand and are empathetic to the challenges Tarryn was facing in his personal life, there is no excuse for the behaviour or the hurt he caused a young woman, this is never okay.

“The fact that Tarryn chose to engage in behaviour over direct messages that was, and is, clearly inappropriate, even while he was undertaking education and being counselled for previous breaches contributed to the length of suspension imposed.”

The matter was triaged through the AFL’s Respect and Responsibility policy and the AFL continues to provide wellbeing support for those involved.

—-

3 Likes
286

You can’t always run away from your demons. If the person doesn’t want to or is incapable of change, a change of scenery isn’t going to help. Thomas was given a massive wake-up call last year and it had no effect whatsoever.

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287

I hope he turns his life around and never re offends. If I were advising or mentoring Thomas the first thing I’d advise him to do is come out and apologise to all of his victims ……do it publicly and say you’re very sorry. Own it and mean it. I’d also ask him to reflect on the pain and hurt he’s caused others. That’s the start

6 Likes
288

The victims are entitled to justice. If he ends up in jail (I have no idea how serious the allegations are) for such behaviour that should provide them with some amount of closure.

289

We all know the AFL will not let him back. There will be no official call but he’ll be blacklisted.

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290

Only 23 still young enough to change his life

291

Thomas to use the mental health excuse for sympathy in 3,2…

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292

Have to chuckle at the North fans saying that Thomas’s sacking is evidence of Clarkson’s “fearless leadership”. The mental gymnastics is too much for my feeble mind.

4 Likes
293

He’s a repeat offender on a very serious social problem.

AFL, and by extension clubs, preach equality and inclusion. He behaviour just does not align to those core values.

If he got back it would staggering.

294

They are excited over there thinking they are on the way up because they beat an undermanned pies team in a match sim lols

Reality will soon hit them when the season starts and be reminded of how crap they are another bottom four finish

They almost got us last year love nothing more then to break their tin rattling hearts again and extend our streak to 12 wins in a row

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295

Ripper post.
Not enough emphasis on Thomas changing his ways and preventing this from happening again

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296

He’s a continued recidivist… despite likely being afforded market leading programs and counselling. Good riddance dirtbag!

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297

Well why the ■■■■ has he not done this yet

298

Or he’ll make his way onto the C7 commentary team.

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299

Yes, but until then his 18 games (?) penalty is presumably not ticking down. Hence they can safely say he won’t play this year (and greatly punish any team who takes him).



EDIT: this was written before reading the AFL press release… which doesn’t explicitly say what’s happening.

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300

You’d be foolish to give him a list spot. That kid has had way too many chances

301

That makes sense.
He’s been sacked, so his suspension doesn’t actually start until someone signs him.
Which given that penalty (all other very significant things aside) will be never.

2 Likes
302

So why is Marlion Pickett allowed to play?

Are his crimes permitted under the code of conduct?

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303

Thomas gone, Clarkson still there. You dont get a pass North

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304

Because he’s ■■■■ and nobody cares about him.