Tarryn Thomas could make his AFL return this weekend when the Kangaroos take on the Bombers on Sunday.
After a string of off-field dramas, Thomas has been named in the club’s extended squad off the back of a month in the VFL.
Last weekend, Thomas racked up 18 disposals, six clearances and six tackles playing at centre-halfback in the Kangaroos 39-point win over Collingwood.
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Thomas spent much of 2023 bouncing from controversy to controversy, facing allegations including threatening behaviour towards women.
He was stood down in February when allegations first emerged, and then again at the end of March.
He returned to training with the VFL program in mid-April after club specialists said Thomas would “benefit from being in a structured environment”.
He played his first game two weeks later.
Last month, Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes said Thomas shouldn’t be allowed to play at the top level for an extended period, and should be made to earn his return.
“The seriousness of the allegations towards him, I didn’t think he’d play again,” he said.
“I love the Tyson Stengle story, go and make them earn it and make them earn it for a long period of time to show us how much you want to be an AFL player.”
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Stengle’s career looked all but over after he was caught drink driving in an unregistered car, before later being caught with cocaine in a taxi. He was delisted at the start of 2021.
But Stengle was handed a lifeline by the Cats and starred throughout 2022. He kicked 4.1 in the Cats’ grand final win over the Swans.
Thomas is one of five inclusions in the Kangaroos side, alongside Aidan Corr, Curtis Taylor, Darcy Tucker and Liam Shiels.
Paul Curtis and Charlie Lazzaro have both been left out.
North Melbourne languish in 17th on the ladder, after a rough season that culminated in head coach Alastair Clarkson announcing he was stepping away from the role mid-way through the first of a five-season deal.
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