Kangaroos under fire amid 'harrowing' scandal

1 year ago 56

North Melbourne young weapon Tarryn Thomas volition instrumentality permission from the nine successful the aftermath of caller allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Thomas was charged successful January with threatening to administer an intimate image, and was besides stopped by constabulary for allegedly driving with a suspended licence implicit the Christmas break.

On Wednesday, News Corp published claims that a fig of different women person made complaints to the AFL that person present been referred to police.

"Tarryn Thomas volition instrumentality clip distant from the nine aft the AFL's integrity portion informed North Melbourne of a caller allegation of inappropriate behaviour connected Wednesday afternoon," the Kangaroos said successful a statement.

"In airy of this caller information, Thomas volition stay distant from the nine portion the AFL gathers further accusation astir the allegations.

"In the meantime, Thomas volition beryllium expected to conscionable his obligations astir his respectful behaviour grooming and acquisition program, arsenic outlined successful nine correspondence earlier today."

In an earlier statement, Kangaroos president president Sonja Hood said the nine was taking the allegations seriously.

But the club's effect has been criticised by AFL commentator Kane Cornes, who said the allegations marque for "harrowing reading".

"If 20 per cent of what is alleged turns retired to beryllium accurate, Thomas should ne'er play successful the AFL again," Cornes told SEN.

"Multiple women person accused him of harassing, threatening and intimidating them."

Cornes said the nine should person taken enactment agelong earlier now.

"North and the AFL person been alert of these allegations for immoderate time," helium said.

"Remarkably, North lone responded (on Wednesday). Shockingly, it took a front-page nonfiction to look earlier addressing the substance with the club's members and shot supporters.

"Club president Sonja Hood preferred the easiness of a written connection alternatively than the respective media requests to code the sedate allegations."

Cornes said Hood's connection was "weak and near galore unanswered questions".

"Why did the nine and the AFL hold months earlier addressing them?" helium asked.

"Why did it lone consciousness indispensable to respond upon the communicative becoming public?

"Why did caller skipper Luke McDonald talk truthful glowingly of Thomas conscionable past week, throwing his enactment down him and calling him a large kid? I wonderment however it made the alleged victims consciousness proceeding that?

"Last week I called North Melbourne hypocrites for not sanctioning and condemning the behaviour of Thomas. One week later, I basal wholly by that statement."

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