A top footy coach has been met with backlash after voicing support for the return of a suspended player to the AFL, amid national conversations around behaviour towards women.
Tarryn Thomas was sacked from North Melbourne club the Kangaroos earlier this year and is currently serving an 18-match suspension from the AFL.
The league’s own investigation found that “Thomas had engaged in multiple acts of misconduct including threatening a woman via direct messages multiple times”.
Now, in what has been branded an “appalling” move, Thomas’ former Kangaroos coach, Essendon coach Brad Scott, has suggested the 24-year-old deserves a second chance with another club.
“I’ve known Tarryn since he was 14 and my view is he’s a good person,” Scott told Channel 7.
“Has he made some terrible mistakes? Yes he has, and he’s the first to admit that.”
Thomas was sacked by the Kangaroos twice in 2023.
In January that year, he was charged by police with a single count of threatening to distribute an intimate image of a woman.
The charge was dropped in July and downgraded to a single count of using a carriage service to harass.
Thomas did not receive a criminimal convction and he agreed to donate $1000 to charity.
Police have not charged Thomas for any of the incidents that led to his AFL suspension.
He has not been accused of physical violence against women.
Thomas has to complete an education course before he could be permitted to play at AFL level again in 2025.
“I can’t speak to what’s happened in the last couple of years in relation to Tarryn, I haven’t been privy to all the information,” Scott said.
“But I just tend to think that people make mistakes. If you keep making the same mistake, there’s an issue, but as leaders we expect young people to make mistakes.
“So, as an industry, do we just wash our hands and say we’re done with him or do we help him? I prefer to sit in the help camp.”
He confirmed Essendon is not currently exploring the possibility of recruiting Thomas.
“This will be a conversation for post-season, like a number of other clubs. He still has to pass a behavioural change program in the next six months before he’s even eligible to enter a state-league competition and then be eligible for the delisted free agency role later this year.”
Scott’s comments were quickly slammed online, with some calling for the coach to “read the room” given the national spotlight on behaviour towards women, following the deaths of at least 28 women who have been allegedly killed by men this year.
The AFL have also annouced it will hold pre-game tributes to women who have lost their lives in gender-based violence during Round 8.
“One step forward, three steps back (Essendon). Read the room Brad, you’re about to divide the football club” one person wrote on X.
“As an (Essendon) member, lifetime supporter and domestic violence survivor I am absolutely appalled and sickened,” said another.
“Great timing Brad Scott. This isn’t a second chance, North gave him multiple chances,” another wrote.
“Here was the time for him to show leadership for all women but particularly Essendon women and also support the decision North took,” another comment read.
“Pathetic with everything going on in Australia right now,” another wrote on social media. “His 18 game suspension is not even close to being over yet and the AFL is already preparing for his return.”
“Incredibly uncomfortable”
Weighing in on the prospect of Thomas’ return, AFL great and vocal advocate against domestic violence Jimmy Bartel said he feels “incredibly uncomfortable” about the former North Melbourne player being given a second chance in the AFL.
“I feel very uncomfortable with it. I get the whole premise of forgiveness and chances, he’s had a number of chances with his alleged behaviour,” Bartel said on Footy Classified.
“But at some stage there’s got to be a fork in the road, because the forgiveness angle hasn’t worked. The numbers are actually getting worse.
“I’m open to all discussions but I feel incredibly uncomfortable that we’re gonna have players arm-in-arm, another woman dies … I just find it very hard.”
He added playing AFL in itself is a “privilege”.
“It was a privilege to get multiple opportunities. And now you’re being spoken about with the privilege of getting another lifeline? Throw your arms around him, support him, but you don’t have to do that at AFL level,” he said.
Addressing Scott’s public display of support on his Triple M radio show, Marty Sheargold said the coach’s comments were “hard to listen to”.
“He (Scott) can say he’s known Tarryn since he was a young man and hadn’t seen behaviour like that in him, but you can’t say he’s a good guy that’s made a couple of mistakes … that’s the wrong language around all of this stuff!”
“They (the AFL) can be making strong choices around this kind of behaviour. The NRL did this. As soon as there was allegations levelled against players, they were sidelined until a (legal) outcome from the investigation.”
“From Tarryn Thomas, when he’s had the support of what I know to be a fantastic football club, continues to reoffend … well no, absolutely not (should he be given another chance).”
Macquarie University criminologist Vincent Hurley, who recently addressed violence against women in on ABC’s Q&A, labelled Scott’s comments “appalling”, telling news.com.au he was “surprised” to hear them.
“If we’re trying to change attitudes of society, then an AFL star or any sporting star that breaks the law should be punished just like everybody else. How could you possibly give someone a second chance? Because you’ve known him since he was 14?”
Mr Hurley, who previously served in the NSW Police force for 30 years, said AFL clubs have a responsibility not to condone inappropriate behaviour.
“What message does that send to the rest of the society and the kids that idolise him? What message does it send when we are trying to implement generational change for boys. (It shows) that this is tolerated at an elite sport level”.
“It goes against the grain of every woman, every mother, every daughter, everyone in society. It goes against them because they think it’s acceptable.”
Anastasia Powell, professor of family and sexual violence, criminology and justice studies at RMIT University told news.com.au ending violence against women takes a whole-of-community effort, sharing sports leaders “have a particularly important role to play”.
“Many AFL clubs have already been taking clear action to improve gender equality internally, and to be better leaders and role models in our community. That’s the kind of action we need to be seeing and encouraging,” she told news.com.au.
“We can absolutely support individual men to change their behaviour towards women. We all want to see that change in every sports club, every workplace, everywhere Australians live, work, learn and play. But we also know that we will not make progress if we continue to minimise men’s violence and abuse towards women.”