tarryn thomas what did he do

Tarryn Thomas is a former AFL player whose career with North Melbourne ended after the league found he engaged in repeated misconduct, including inappropriate and threatening behaviour towards women, leading to a long suspension and his sacking by the club. Since then, he has also faced separate police matters, including allegations of harassing a former partner and an incident where he was allegedly found in possession of drugs, and some more recent attempts to restart his football career at lower levels. All allegations and legal matters are subject to court processes, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence where charges are not proven.

Key background

• Tarryn Thomas was drafted by North Melbourne in 2018 and played as a highly rated midfielder/forward before off‑field issues derailed his career.

• The AFL’s integrity unit later found he had engaged in multiple acts of misconduct towards a woman, including threatening messages, which led to an 18‑match ban and made him ineligible to play at any level for a period.

What the AFL and club found

• North Melbourne stated the AFL had found Thomas guilty of “inappropriate behaviour towards a female” and endorsed the sanction suspending him for 18 matches.

• The club then terminated his contract, saying his ongoing behaviour was not compatible with club values despite extensive efforts over about a year to support behavioural change.

Legal and harassment issues

• Separate to the AFL process, Thomas has been charged with offences related to allegedly harassing a former partner, including reports of “harassing phone calls,” with the AFL noting it would monitor the police proceedings.

• In another reported incident, police allegedly found drugs and “deal bags” in a Lamborghini he was in, with media reporting he was expected to be charged on summons over drug possession.

Attempts at a football comeback

• After completing behaviour and education programs, he was later ruled eligible to play at state‑league level, though not immediately in the AFL again, and several clubs were reported to have considered but not signed him.

• In late 2025, Northern Territory club Southern Districts confirmed talks with Thomas about possibly returning to football in a community‑focused environment with strong Indigenous role models, but said no final decision had been made.

How forums and fans talk about it

• AFL fan forums and Reddit threads often focus on his pattern of behaviour, with some users arguing he has had “too many chances” and others debating whether he deserves another opportunity if he genuinely changes.

• Discussions also highlight broader concerns about domestic abuse, respect for women, and how sporting codes should respond when talented players are repeatedly linked to such behaviour.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.