Boss’ dire warning as troubled gun makes return

In a statement released on Tuesday, the club said specialists in the area said Thomas would “benefit from being in a structured environment”, and would therefore support his participation in the VFL program.

He will also engage in part-time work.

The club said Thomas will not yet return to match play – that would come only when he makes “adequate progress towards meeting the club’s on-and-off-field expectations”.

Thomas made headlines again last week when he made an Instagram post of himself driving a Mercedes with his feet on the dashboard.

In the same statement, the club said he had been fined $5,000, and made to make a further $5,000 donation to a road safety charity.

“Based on expert advice, supported by our own observations, and after building a new plan that will see him working and training with our VFL program, we’ll provide Tarryn with the structure he needs to give him every opportunity to demonstrate the required standards of behaviour,” North Melbourne chief executive Jennifer Watt said.

Where to next for Thomas?

“Tarryn has now been away from the club for a total of eight weeks across this year, and he has engaged in a series of education and training programs during that time. 

“We have made it clear to Tarryn that the future of his playing career at North Melbourne is in his hands.”

Thomas has two pending court appearances this year – one for a driving charge unrelated to the offence described above, and another for “threatening to distribute an intimate image”.

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