Footy boss who issued Tarryn Thomas warning in explosive email leak breaks silence on what really went wrong for troubled star at AFL club
- Jen Watt has set the record straight on Tarryn Thomas
- The North Melbourne boss sent an email about Thomas’ behavior
- She said there was no adequate program to help him
The football manager who warned clubs that Tarryn Thomas was ‘unable to meaningfully change his behaviour’ has set the record straight after her explosive email bombshell.
Last April, an email from North Melbourne chief executive Jennifer Watt to Eagles colleague Don Pyke and other club CEOs highlighted Thomas’s behavior as part of Pyke’s push for a shared position condemning violence against women.
Thomas was employed by North Melbourne and had completed four behaviour change programs before the club lost patience and sacked him in February.
Clubs are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Thomas for the 2025 season, provided he completes a behavioral change programme.
But in an email from Watt, she explained the lengths the Kangaroos went to in trying to change Thomas’s behavior and their ongoing frustrations.
“(Kangaroos president) Sonja Hood and I have talked about this a lot, especially in light of the recent challenges we have faced with Tarryn Thomas,” Watt said in her message.
‘We were struck by how difficult it was to find programs that support behavior change. And this was for someone with significant resources and support around them.
North Melbourne boss Jennifer Watt has set the record straight on Tarryn Thomas
Watt sent an email to other club bosses warning them of Thomas’ inability to change his behavior despite undertaking four separate programs
‘Eventually we found a combination of programs for Tarryn.
“Although Tarryn ultimately completed four different programs, which included a comprehensive combination of educational, therapy and participatory programs, we were unable to meaningfully change his behavior.”
Two months later, Watt made her point clear: she wanted to find a suitable program to help Thomas.
“It’s been such a challenging time and people ask how we feel now. I feel sad. I feel sad that we couldn’t help him change his behaviour,” Watt told the Herald Sun.
“He ultimately gave us no choice but to make that decision. I hope Tarryn can change his behavior and earn another chance. That would be the best outcome here.
‘The point I was trying to make in that email is that these are really complex, challenging situations, not just in football clubs, but in society. There is a lot of help at the crisis point, but not much help in the rehabilitation phase.’