Essendon great Matthew Lloyd fears troubled North Melbourne star Tarryn Thomas will be “one of the most wasted talents we’ve ever seen” in footy as a huge suspension looms.
The Kangaroos player is being investigated by the AFL Integrity Unit for another set of allegations of inappropriate off-field behaviour made by a woman.
While Nine reported the AFL Commission has handed down an 18-week suspension for Thomas, which would be one of the longest in modern footy history, other outlets said the length of the ban – while expected to encompass at least half a season – has not yet been cemented. An AFL spokesperson told Foxfooty.com.au the investigation was ongoing.
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Whatever the punishment, Thomas is out of contract at the end of 2024 and despite his talent would seem unlikely to continue his AFL career, given he has already been handed several chances by the Kangaroos for previous incidents including accusations of “serious and confronting” threats of violence towards women.
Pointing to the troubled career of the former No.2 pick who battled injuries and off-field concerns through an 88-game career, Lloyd said on 3AW: “I put him in the Harley Bennell bracket.
“He’ll (Thomas) be lost to football. He’ll be one of the most wasted talents that we’ve ever seen in the game.”
Lloyd revealed he had spent the day at Arden Street as part of an off-the-record media session with Kangaroos officials.
“Tarryn Thomas was asked (about) and you could sense the way they were talking that it had been a draining issue for them,” he said.
“It’s been left in the hands of the AFL; they were expecting to hear three weeks ago what was going to be happening.
“I remember John Quinn, our long-time fitness coach at the Bombers, said there was one particular player that he said I spent 90 per cent of my time dealing with his issues and his matters as a head of strength and conditioning coach. So for 40 other players, who are doing all the right things, I’m spending 10% of my time on them.
“I raised this with North, it was just a candid chat, and I could see a few nods saying yep, I can understand what you’re saying because that’s been Tarryn Thomas. We’re forever being sidetracked by issues when we want to put all our energies into getting ourselves back on our feet as a football club, yet we’re constantly dealing with off-field matters with Tarryn Thomas.”
Thomas has played 69 AFL matches since being taken with the No.8 pick in the 2018 draft.
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