AFL great Matthew Lloyd blasts Tarryn Thomas – calling star an ‘absolute drainer’ on Kangaroos

AFL great Matthew Lloyd has labelled troubled star Tarryn Thomas an ‘absolute drainer’ and declared North Melbourne are ‘wasting time and energy’ on the midfielder as they try to rebuild the club.

Speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified, Lloyd felt North Melbourne should explore all options following yet another off-field indiscretion from the 23-year-old.

Lloyd’s strong words follows footage emerging of Thomas driving in a dangerous manner, with his feet on the dashboard as his Mercedes drifts between lanes.

‘He’s an absolute drainer on the North Melbourne football club and I don’t say that lightly,’ Essendon Bombers legend Lloyd said. 

‘I’ve seen it before … when you have players and staff who are trying to turn that club around to try and be respected again and stand for something….the amount of time and energy they are wasting on Tarryn Thomas [is detrimental].

AFL great Matthew Lloyd has labelled troubled star Tarryn Thomas an ‘absolute drainer’ and declared the Kangaroos are ‘wasting time and energy’ on the midfielder

Lloyd’s strong words follows footage emerging of Thomas driving in a dangerous manner, which he shared to his friends on Instagram

‘They have already brought him back into the club once, then they had to let him go back out again, wanted to reintroduce him next week. Whether you are sending that [clip of himself driving] to one person or 10, it’s dangerous, immature.

‘Again he’s losing more respect from the football world and more importantly his teammates and he’s being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars while he’s not at the club. 

‘He’s just going to realise whether it’s next week, next month or in a few years that he wasted an amazing opportunity.’

Thomas was stood down indefinitely by the Kangaroos last month – for a second time – amid concerns over his behaviour towards women.

Additionally, the midfielder has been told to stay away from the club until he makes progress in a respectful behaviour education program.

The latest Instagram footage could be the final straw in terms of his future at Arden Street.

In the clip, the Kangaroos midfielder can be seen driving his luxury car in cruise control with his legs and feet on the centre console.

The vehicle then drifts into the wrong lane and Thomas reportedly captioned the video ‘living my best life’.

Thomas was charged in January with threatening to distribute an intimate image and faced court last month. The case will return to the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on July 18.

The Kangaroos said Tarryn Thomas is no closer to returning to the club after being stood down indefinitely in March amid concerns over his behaviour towards women

Thomas has not been considered for senior selection so far this season – but has been allowed to play in VFL practice matches

In February, Thomas faced two counts of violating a court order, but those charges were dropped.

North Melbourne were last month made aware of further allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which they reported to the AFL Integrity Unit.

Thomas has not been considered for senior selection so far this season but has been permitted to play in VFL practice matches.

Meanwhile, Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson hopes Thomas can emulate Collingwood star Jordan De Goey in turning his stuttering AFL career around.

‘I just look at a guy like Jordan De Goey, who 12 months ago just couldn’t seem to do anything right but now has grown up, matured, he is playing great footy,’ he said.

‘Full credit to him…’The wider football world is looking at Jordan and saying ‘well done. You were a peanut at different stages in the last couple of years and you fixed yourself up – good work.’

‘And we are hoping that Tarryn can do exactly the same thing.’

Clarkson added Thomas was dealing with serious challenges in his personal life that remain private, but stressed he needed to at least ‘reduce the frequency’ of his poor behaviour.

‘At some point in time, yeah, the club and he are going to need to make a decision because these types of behaviours can’t be ongoing,’ he said.

‘There needs to be some learning from it. And once Tarryn does indicate to us that he’s actually fully committed to his footy, then he will come back into this program.’

Thomas, a first-round draft pick in 2018, has played 57 games for North Melbourne, booting 45 goals.