Tarryn Thomas sacked from North Melbourne after AFL hands down 18-week suspension

Tarryn Thomas has been stood down from the entire 2024 AFL season after being found guilty of "several breaches" of the AFL's code of conduct.

The 23-year-old has been suspended for 18 matches, but will not be permitted to return to the AFL until he has undertaken a behavioural change program.

Thomas will not be allowed to play football at any level during the period of his ban, which ends on July 22.

"The AFL wishes to advise that North Melbourne player has been found guilty of several breaches of the AFL rule conduct unbecoming," an AFL statement read.

"It was ultimately determined by the AFL that Thomas had engaged in multiple acts of misconduct including threatening a woman via direct messages multiple times.

"In determining the sanction, the AFL took into account the evidence over a period of time which included Thomas engaging in misconduct while he was undertaking education in 2023 to deal with similar behaviours from earlier that year."

North Melbourne said it endorsed the AFL's sanctions and has informed Thomas he will no longer be a Kangaroos player.

"The club has provided Tarryn with significant time, resources and support but we've now arrived at a point where the individual's needs don't match those of the club," North Melbourne chief executive Jennifer Watt said via a statement.

"We know Tarryn needs help — for himself and for the women in his life — but it's clear the path we've taken over the past 12 months hasn't had the desired impact.

"This decision doesn't come lightly or easily. We brought Tarryn to the club as a teenager and we acknowledge that he has faced complex and challenging circumstances over his life.

"We hope Tarryn will find the support that is right for him and that he does the work required to be the best version of himself."

Thomas has played 69 games for the Kangaroos since being drafted with the eighth pick of the 2018 national draft.

Football manager Todd Viney said Thomas's behaviour was "not compatible with the club's or the team's values".

"I can't read into Tarryn's mind," Viney told reporters.

"But certainly from my point of view, there's two Tarryns - there's the one that we see play the game and there's one there that has some troubles dealing with relationship issues.

"If it's not a wake up call, I don't know what will be."

The club added that although Thomas was no longer a North Melbourne player, medical and mental health support would continue to made available to him.

The midfielder/forward had been suspended in February last year after the Herald Sun published "confronting allegations" that he threatened and harassed a number of women.