Disgraced former North Melbourne utility Tarryn Thomas has been cleared to play at state league stage in 2025, however could not signal for an AFL-affiliated membership.
Thomas, 24, can also be not eligible for the 2025 mid-season draft whereas no choice has been made on whether or not he can return to the AFL subsequent yr.
The previous Kangaroo had been ineligible to play soccer at any stage after an AFL integrity unit investigation final February discovered he had engaged in a number of acts of misconduct, together with threatening a lady in direct messages.
He was suspended for 18 matches and subsequently axed by North Melbourne.
(Photograph by Dylan Burns/AFL Pictures through Getty Photographs)
In November, Thomas walked free from courtroom on a great behaviour bond, avoiding a legal conviction after police dropped a cost of utilizing a telecommunications service to harass a lady.
The AFL confirmed on Thursday Thomas was now eligible to play for stand-alone golf equipment within the VFL, SANFL and WAFL after displaying a “constant change in his behaviour” and finishing an schooling and behavioural change program.
Within the VFL, he may due to this fact play with Coburg, Frankston, the Northern Bullants, Port Melbourne, Southport, Werribee or Williamstown as he makes an attempt to restart his profession.
Thomas is eligible to function for any SANFL membership bar Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s groups, and for WAFL groups other than West Coast or Peel Thunder, who’re Fremantle’s affiliate.
“The AFL has been stored updated with Thomas’ progress, which has included his completion of a complete schooling and behavioural change program, and importantly a constant change in his behaviour over a time period,” an AFL spokesperson mentioned in an announcement.
“To be clear, Thomas isn’t accepted to play within the AFL competitors in 2025 or for any membership with an AFL affiliation in a state league competitors, nevertheless as a part of his rehabilitation he has been accepted to play in soccer competitions beneath the AFL.
“He may even not be eligible for the 2025 AFL mid-season draft.
“No choice has been made in relation to Thomas’ eligibility to play within the AFL in 2026 or thereafter and that matter isn’t presently into consideration.”
9 reporter Tom Morris broke the information, saying “the door is barely ajar for Thomas to return to the AFL in 2026.”
It now stays to be seen whether or not any state league golf equipment signal the ex-Roo as his footy future hangs within the steadiness.
St Kilda head of expertise and acquisition Graeme Allan met with Thomas final August however the membership determined towards pursuing him following backlash over the assembly.
Essendon distanced themselves from Thomas in a letter to members in June, after coach Brad Scott had described the participant as a “good particular person”.
Thomas, the No.8 draft decide in 2018, performed 69 video games for North Melbourne from 2019 to 2023.
© AAP
