Hawks legend Jordan Lewis believes Tarryn Thomas has been given too many chances by North Melbourne, saying he’d be “filthy” if he were a teammate of the troubled forward.
The Kangaroos confirmed Thomas would return to the club via their VFL program and train on Tuesday night after being stood down for a second time due to insufficient progress in his respectful behavioural program and more allegations of inappropriate treatment of women.
The 23-year old was also handed a $5000 fine for a social media post from last week that showed him driving dangerously, with a further $5000 to be donated to a road safety charity.
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North said specialists advice was that Thomas would benefit from being in a “structured environment,” however noted he wouldn’t eligible for selection for a VFL game until he’s made “adequate progress” towards the club’s expectations both on and off the field.
However speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Lewis believes Thomas has already done enough to be forced out of the club.
“They’re going above and beyond what they need to (for Thomas), really,” the four-time premiership Hawk said of the Kangaroos.
“Players get delisted at the end of the year because their footballing potential isn’t up to scratch. They might try absolutely everything and be super professional and do everything that’s possibly needed to stay on a list, yet they get delisted.
“This one doesn’t sit well with me — and I don’t know Tarryn and his history and what he’s going through.
“But if I’m a North Melbourne player and I see how many chances this kid has been given for complete disregard of a professional athlete, I’d be filthy.
“I’m staggered that they give him chance after chance after chance — and I get the structure.
“If your Alastair Clarkson and the North Melbourne Football Club trying to build a culture, you can’t have these people in your culture.”
Thomas is due to face court twice later this year — for a charge of threatening to distributer an intimate image, and another charge of driving with a suspended license unrelated to the recent social media incident.
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North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt said the club would support Thomas but that his behaviour must improve, noting his future at Arden Street was in “his hands.”
“Based on expert advice, supported by our own observations, and after building a new plan that will see him working and training with our VFL program, we’ll provide Tarryn with the structure he needs to give him every opportunity to demonstrate the required standards of behaviour,” Watt said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Tarryn has now been away from the club for a total of eight weeks across this year, and he has engaged in a series of education and training programs during that time.
“We have made it clear to Tarryn that the future of his playing career at North Melbourne is in his hands.”
Thomas, whose contract with the Kangaroos expires at the end of 2024, has played 57 AFL games since joining the club with Pick 8 in the 2018 National Draft.
