UPDATE: Tarryn Thomas will take time away from the club after the AFL Integrity Unit informed the club of fresh allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him.
Update 8.50pm - ‘In light of this new information, Thomas will remain away from the club while the AFL gathers further information about the allegations.’ The original, multiple allegations weren’t enough to stand him down - obviously. Amazing what media pressure does.
— Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) February 1, 2023
Today's front page of the Herard Sun makes for harrowing reading.
North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas was already caught driving without a license - twice. His Mercedes Benz impounded, and he's been fined nearly $900 by police.
His club North Melbourne swept both offences under the rug and is still yet to address it.
Those traffic charges seem insignificant when you read what Thomas is alleged to have done to multiple women.
If 20 per cent of what is alleged turns out to be accurate, Thomas should never play in the AFL again.
Multiple women have accused him of harassing, threatening and intimidating them.
The allegations detailed in today's Herald Sun include:
Telling a woman he wanted to beat her.
Throwing a lamp at a woman in a hotel.
Sending threatening text messages, declaring "your time is coming", and threatening to bash the woman's friend.
A verbal and physical confrontation at a nightclub.
One woman has been provided psychological support by the AFL.
Another woman revealed in a text message to a friend how frightened she was of Thomas. Quote: "I'm scared. I know he is going to kill me".
North and the AFL have been aware of these allegations for some time. The AFL reportedly contacted the women involved last night following the article going online.
Remarkably, North only responded today. Shockingly, it took a front-page article to emerge before addressing the matter with the club's members and football supporters.
Club president Sonja Hood preferred the ease of a written statement rather than the several media requests to address the grave allegations.
In it, she revealed that the club had been aware of the investigation into Thomas for some time:
That the club had worked on the matter with the AFL, who recommended he complete a program entailing; respectful relationships education, working with psychologists, mentoring, peer support and community so he can meet North Melbourne's values and community expectations.
The club will await the outcome of another charge against Thomas before the courts.
Hood urged those reading that the club understood the severe and confronting nature of the allegations.
Hood's statement was weak and left many unanswered questions:
Why did the club and the AFL wait months before addressing them?
Why did it only feel necessary to respond upon the story becoming public?
Why did new captain Luke McDonald speak so glowingly of Thomas just last week, throwing his support behind him and calling him a great kid? I wonder how it made the alleged victims feel hearing that?
Why didn't Hood specifically acknowledge and support those alleged victims?
Why is the club's punishment for missing an ice bath more severe than what Thomas has been alleged?
Why didn't they address or sanction him for the driving charges?
How many other stories such as this does the AFL try to bury?
Why has Thomas' teammate Cam Zurhaar been silent when he was so public with his displeasure of Jason Horne-Francis in his first season at North?
Last week I called North Melbourne hypocrites for not sanctioning and condemning the behaviour of Thomas. One week later, I stand entirely by that statement.
