Tarryn Thomas breaks his silence as troubled AFL star fights for his future

Tarryn Thomas insists he wants to play footy again after the North Melbourne gun was involved in another off-field indiscretion.

Thomas, 23, has been told to stay away from the AFL club after being placed on a respectful behavior education program.

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

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

North Melbourne were made aware of further allegations of inappropriate conduct last month, which they reported to the AFL Integrity Unit. While video footage surfaced this week of him driving with his feet on the dashboard.

Thomas was due to return to North Melbourne in the coming days, Channel 7 reports, but the new video footage of the 23-year-old has extended that comeback.

The Kangaroos said Thomas had not made “enough progress” with his education program to warrant a return.

On Wednesday, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan called on the troubled star to clean up his act or risk never playing footy again, and speaking to Seven, Thomas insists he wants to resume his career as soon as possible.

“I’m very desperate to get back to playing the game I love and to play with my best friends,” he said. ‘I can’t wait to go back.

“I’m doing everything I can to come back and the club is helping me and sending me. The club is doing a fantastic job for me.’

AFL CEO McLachlan made it clear what is expected of Thomas if he wants to come back.

“Tarryn has to make a decision about what he wants to do with his future,” he said. “Either he comes back into the community and meets AFL and club standards and community expectations, or he doesn’t.”