Thomas warned by Roos
CLUB SAYS STAR MUST CHANGE BEHAVIOUR
NORTH Melbourne has warned returning midfielder Tarryn Thomas that his career is in jeopardy if he cannot change his troublesome behaviour in coming months.
Thomas on Monday returned to Arden Street as he continues a range of educational courses related to his offensive behaviour towards women.
Thomas is still ineligible for selection at AFL and VFL level and has missed a month of training so seems likely to miss the early rounds of the season.
Thomas stepped away from the Roos in the wake of disturbing allegations from multiple women about harassing and intimidating behaviour.
But head of football Todd Viney said the club believed Thomas was better served by continuing his improvement at the club rather than being isolated from his teammates and staff.
Viney said the club would continue to support Thomas but made clear players only received so many chances before they lost the right to play AFL. “We hope that we are seen to be serious about what we are doing and that Tarryn understands he hasn’t acted to the level society expects,” he said. “We are hoping that the people looking at this tonight see that we are putting things in place and taking it very seriously and we are trying to change behaviour more than anything.
“We are trying to help a 22year-old become a man. Tarryn is a young guy who has made lots of mistakes and is learning what he can do to get better. In this environment you behave yourself into an AFL program and behave yourself out of an AFL program. So in simple terms, continue to display the wrong habits and you find your way out of the industry.”
Viney said the club’s decision to allow Thomas to return continued a theme of accountability and improvement for the young midfielder.
“He will concentrate on the programs we have put in place. We felt like it was best suited away from the club. He has educated himself, started doing some programs. There is still more work to be done,” Viney said.
“We are happy with his attitude and accountability to some of the things we have asked him to address. That is primarily towards his attitude to women and respect and responsibility towards them.”
Viney said the club had pondered whether to delay Thomas’s return until after his next court appearance but decided he would be best helped within Arden Street.
Thomas was charged this year with threatening to distribute an intimate image after a three-month investigation.