‘Threat from female players’ puts a stop to fallen star Tarryn Thomas’s footy comeback after he was axed from the AFL over his treatment of women

Female footy players reportedly vowed to quit their club if it recruited disgraced former AFL star Tarryn Thomas because of his history of awful behaviour with women. 

In February 2024, North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas was sacked after the AFL imposed an 18-match suspension for multiple misconduct breaches, including threatening a woman via direct messages. 

Now Thomas’ hopes of returning to professional football have suffered another major setback after Western Australian Football League [WAFL] club Swan Districts opted against recruiting him for the 2025 season this week. 

The 24-year-old former North Melbourne player arrived in Perth on Tuesday to begin a two-week trial with Swan Districts. 

However, after meetings with key stakeholders, including members, players, volunteers, sponsors and staff, the club announced on Thursday that it would not sign him.

‘Swan Districts Football Club has completed its due diligence review of potential recruit Tarryn Thomas,’ the club posted.

‘The club deeply considered whether Thomas’ reintroduction to football was best served at Swan Districts and whether the club had the resources and capacity to provide what he needed. 

‘The club has decided it will not recruit Thomas and wishes him every success in his future.’

Several Swan Districts WAFLW players reportedly learned about the club’s interest in Thomas through media reports and were advised not to discuss the situation. 

According to News Corp journalist Eliza Reilly, the team met before training and expressed disappointment, with some players considering withdrawing from the club if Thomas was signed.

Club CEO Jeff Dennis confirmed the decision was made independently of the WA Football Commission (WAFC) and the AFL.

And he said the process had uncovered some uncomfortable truths within their own ranks that needed to be addressed first. This process has uncovered many deep concerns and personal experiences,’ Dennis said.

‘It’s highlighted domestic violence has affected many people in our Swans family and shown us that we’re just not ready for this.’

‘We must acknowledge that as a society, we are still a long way from resolving the domestic violence issues occurring. This is not just a problem within our club or even just in football – it’s a pervasive issue that requires ongoing attention, education, and action at all levels of society.

‘We must first address our internal challenges before we can effectively support others.

‘We need to keep focusing on educating our own community about domestic violence and creating a safe and caring environment for our people.

‘This is a crucial step before we can consider taking on additional responsibilities like assisting Tarryn.

Many Swan Districts supporters questioned why the club even considered recruiting Thomas.

One fan wrote: ‘I genuinely can’t believe the AFL hasn’t banned him for life, taking the decision-making away from every club that thinks they can rehabilitate him.’

Another questioned: ‘What on earth were the Swans thinking? The ‘deep concerns’ have been public knowledge for a long time.’

Others applauded the club’s decision.

‘A difficult decision trying to balance support for victims of domestic violence and giving someone another chance. I believe you have made the right decision. Well done Swans,’ one posted. 

Thomas has struggled to find a club willing to take him on after his departure from North Melbourne. 

In February 2023, the AFL’s integrity unit found he had engaged in multiple acts of misconduct, including threatening a woman via direct messages. 

He was suspended for 18 matches and later sacked by North Melbourne.

In November, he avoided a criminal conviction after police dropped a charge of using a telecommunications service to harass a woman. 

The AFL recently ruled that Thomas had shown ‘a consistent change in his behaviour’ and completed an education and behavioural change program, making him eligible to play in a state-league competition.

However, his options remain limited. VFL club Northern Bullants also decided against signing him after an internal board meeting over the weekend. 

‘The Northern Bullants Football Club have met over the weekend and decided not to proceed with the signing of Tarryn Thomas. We wish Tarryn all the best with his future,’ the club said in a statement on Monday. 

Thomas had been canvassing potential VFL suitors, with his eligibility restricted to standalone clubs not affiliated with AFL franchises. This left him with limited opportunities, particularly in Victoria.

While the AFL has allowed Thomas to sign with a state-league team, he remains ineligible for the 2025 AFL mid-season draft. No decision has been made on whether he will be allowed to return to the AFL in the future.

Two AFL clubs, St Kilda and Essendon, previously expressed interest but ultimately backed away. 

St Kilda’s head of talent and acquisition, Graeme Allan, met with Thomas in August but decided against recruiting him following backlash. 

Similarly, Essendon distanced itself from any association with Thomas in June after coach Brad Scott initially described him as a ‘good person.’