AFL boss Andrew Dillon says no timeline on Tarryn Thomas decision

Controversial North Melbourne footballer Tarryn Thomas will not be suspended yet but AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has flagged the penalty for his latest misdemeanours could be “potentially quite severe”.

Dillon said the AFL had not discussed a ban for Thomas with the Kangaroos and a decision on his punishment would be left entirely to the league’s general counsel Stephen Meade.

Thomas was questioned at AFL House in January after a fresh allegation of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman was taken to the league’s integrity unit.

He is stood down from North Melbourne once again after the club had acted twice in 2023 – first in February, and again in March after he failed to show “sufficient progress” in mandatory behavioural training, which had been one of the conditions of his return to the club.

“Any decision in relation to a sanction or otherwise with Tarryn Thomas will be a decision taken by the general counsel of the AFL – the commission will be updated and made aware of it, but it will be a decision for the general counsel Stephen Meade,” Dillon said on Wednesday.

“It’s a complex and complicated issue with potentially quite severe consequences, and we’ve also got a complainant there who we’re really mindful of their welfare.

“There’s not a timeline on it … we just want to make sure that the investigation affords due process but also consideration to all involved.”

North Melbourne assistant Jed Adcock said the Roos’ coaching staff were not planning for the 23-year-old to play.

“Right now we can only focus on the players that are there,” Adcock said.

“There are people at the club that are looking after that. We can only look after the (remaining) players that are at the club still. If we start taking our energy away from those guys, it is unfair to them.

“Tarryn is getting looked after, there are people looking after them, but our job is to look after the guys that are there.”

He fronted court in July after threatening to distribute intimate content of his former partner in 2022, but avoided a conviction and was ordered to pay $1000 to charity.

The former No. 8 pick returned to the senior program in May and played the final 12 games of the AFL season.