AFL great Jimmy Bartel has offered some timely advice to troubled North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas.
Thomas, 23, is currently stood down from duties at the club as he undergoes education programs following a number of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
He attracted more controversy during the week when he posted a video to social media of him driving an expensive car while his feet were on the dashboard.
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He has enormous raw talent and potential but his AFL career is at risk of ending before it really takes off, due to his off-field scandals.
Bartel, who made the most of his own AFL career and won three premierships with Geelong, warned Thomas not to take his opportunity for granted.
“There is a lot of advice being dished out, and everyone has an opinion on it,” Bartel told Nine’s Sports Sunday.
“I think the most important thing is who’s giving Tarryn Thomas the advice?
“He’s a young man, he just keeps (on) not reading the room here. North Melbourne have thrown their arms around him, they are trying to support him through to come up to the standards of what’s expected of an AFL footballer, and as a young man generally in society.
“I think the best way to put is – AFL football is a privilege, but don’t act privileged.
“He’s got a long way to go.”
The Kangaroos have put no timeline on a potential Thomas return.
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