Suspended AFL player Tarryn Thomas is reportedly at the centre of a fresh police investigation after allegedly harassing a former partner.
On Friday the Herald Sun reported that Thomas was under investigation once again after allegedly repeatedly calling an estranged girlfriend multiple times during the day and night.
The calls were reportedly made after Thomas was let go by the Kangaroos.
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In a statement provided to news.com.au, Victoria Police stated the latest incident was reported to them last month.
“Police are investigating after reports of harassing phone contact,” the statement read.
“A report was made to police on April 11 and investigations into the incident remain ongoing.”
Thomas was stood down by the Kangaroos twice in 2023 – first in February, and again in March after he failed to show “sufficient progress” in mandatory behavioural training, which had been one of the conditions of his return to the club.
The emergence of subsequent allegations against him resulted in a league investigation which ultimately ended with the AFL handing him an 18-match suspension in February.
Shortly after the AFL handed down its suspension, North informed Thomas his contract would be terminated in line with a previous warning that “any new indiscretion would threaten his playing future at North Melbourne”.
The report comes one day after a leaked email from North Melbourne chief executive Jennifer Watt was revealed to the public, which featured a dire warning to rival clubs about Thomas.
“(Kangaroos president) Sonja Hood and I have been talking a lot about this, especially in light of the recent challenges we faced with Tarryn Thomas,” the email from Watt read.
“We were struck by just how hard it was to find programs to support behaviour change.
“And this was for someone with considerable resources and support around them. We eventually found a combination of programs for Tarryn.
“Even though Tarryn ended up completing four different programs which included an extensive combination of education, therapy and participation style programs, we were not able to meaningfully change his behaviour.
“I make this point to demonstrate the depth of the problem and the need for broad reform (in relation to gender-based violence).”
Before returning to football at any level, the rule stipulates Thomas must have undertaken and be satisfactorily progressing with a behavioural change program which needs to be approved in advance by the AFL.
Thomas is currently not able to play football at any level until July 22.
Despite the negative spotlight surrounding Thomas, he received support from former North coach Brad Scott who suggested he deserved a second chance with another club in comments made at the start of May.
“I’ve known Tarryn since he was 14 and my view is he’s a good person,” Scott told Channel 7.
“Has he made some terrible mistakes? Yes he has, and he’s the first to admit that.
“I can’t speak to what’s happened in the last couple of years in relation to Tarryn, I haven’t been privy to all the information,” Scott said.
“But I just tend to think that people make mistakes. If you keep making the same mistake, there’s an issue, but as leaders we expect young people to make mistakes.
“So, as an industry, do we just wash our hands and say we’re done with him or do we help him? I prefer to sit in the help camp.”
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