North Melbourne boss Jennifer Watt has warned the club's 17 rivals that exiled Kangaroos player Tarryn Thomas was "not able to meaningfully change" despite completing four programs utilised to alter the young midfielder's behaviour towards women.
Thomas was cut from the club after being handed an 18-game suspension by the AFL following a series of serious indiscretions and allegations of significantly inappropriate behaviour.
Handed down in February, the ban means Thomas will potentially be able to rejoin the competition at the end of this year, pending he completes an approved behavioural change program at his own cost.
Three months after Thomas' sacking, the AFL took a stance against gender-based violence across Round 8 - paying tribute to the women who have lost their lives amid the national crisis.
West Coast chief executive Don Pyke led the push, with Watt thanking the former Adelaide coach for his role in the movement.
In a letter addressed to Pyke and sent to all other AFL clubs, Watt addressed the difficulty in finding suitable programs for behavioural change and wrote on the challenges the club faced during Thomas' final year with the club.
The email, attained by The Age,ย revealed Thomas completed a quartet of programs prior to his sacking.
"Sonja (Hood, North Melbourne president) and I have been talking a lot about this, especially in light of the recent challenges we faced with Tarryn Thomas," the email read.
"We were struck by just how hard it was to find programs to support behaviour change. And this was for someone with considerable resources and support around them.
"We eventually found a combination of programs for Tarryn. Even though Tarryn ended up completing four different programs which included an extensive combination of education, therapy and participation style programs, we were not able to meaningfully change his behaviour.
"I make this point to demonstrate the depth of the problem and the need for broad reform. NMFC would support an industry initiative."
Thomas' potential return to the AFL has been addressed by several coaches, with both Chris Scott and Brad Scott each stating clubs will do their due dilligence in regard to potentially signing the 24-year-old.
Speaking last month, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson said he would not be surprised if Thomas did make a return to the top flight.
"Tarryn and the AFL and his management need to work through whatever protocols he needs to go through for him to become available to play AFL footy," the four-time premiership coach said.
"It was never in any doubt for me that was going to be something he'd be able to achieve. We're excited if he gets that opportunity, whether it's Geelong or any other club.
"The whole goal of this is to try and give all young men and women right across the country, if they've got a passion to play our game, how can we assist with giving them that opportunity?"
Thomas played 69 games for the Kangaroos after joining the club in 2018 as a graduate of North Melbourne's Next Generation Academy.
