Lengthy AFL ban looms for North Melbourne Kangaroo Tarryn Thomas over alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a woman

A potentially career-ending ban from the AFL is imminent for troubled North Melbourne midfielder Tarryn Thomas over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman.

But the league and the club are refusing to confirm whether a reported 18-week suspension has been settled upon and insist an AFL integrity unit (AFLIU) investigation remains ongoing.

Thomas, 23, has been under investigation from the AFLIU since last month after new domestic violence allegations were made against him.

The Nine Network reported on Monday the AFL commission had ratified an 18-game ban.

No official announcement was expected on Monday evening, with the Kangaroos and the AFL insisting the process was still ongoing.

But the investigation is clearly at the pointy end of proceedings, with a decision looming.

If Thomas is not deregistered by the AFL, North will face a decision on the midfielder’s future beyond the expected lengthy ban.

The Kangaroos have made it clear they are awaiting the AFL’s decision before taking any further steps.

The 23-year-old has been training away from North Melbourne since the investigation started in January.

Thomas, who is out of contract at the end of the 2024 season, was stood down by the club twice last year, first in February and then March, amid concerns over his behaviour towards women.

He was put through a respect and responsibility education program and spent three weeks in the VFL before later earning a senior recall, ultimately playing 12 AFL games last year.

When he returned to the VFL program, chief executive Jennifer Watt said the club had “made it clear to Tarryn that the future of his playing career at North Melbourne is in his hands.”

In July 2023, Thomas walked free from court without a criminal conviction for threatening to distribute intimate videos of his former partner.

He was initially charged with threatening to distribute an intimate image of another person, but this was downgraded by prosecutors to using a carriage service to harass someone.

Thomas was granted a diversion, which meant he escaped a criminal conviction, and was ordered to pay $1000 to charity.

Last April, North fined Thomas $5000 for a video he posted to social media that showed him behind the wheel of his Mercedes with his feet on the dashboard as the vehicle drifted between two lanes.

He was also required to donate a further $5000 to a road safety charity.

The midfielder, drafted at pick No.8 in the 2018 national draft, has played 69 games and kicked 56 goals in a career interrupted by injuries and off-field issues since his 2019 debut.

After kicking 11 goals in 12 games last season, Thomas had been on the comeback trail from groin surgery late last year.