sport news Jimmy Bartel lashes out at shocking call to forgive Tarryn Thomas over ... trends now
AFL legend Jimmy Bartel has slammed the possibility that disgraced former North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas could be back on the footy field next season.
Thomas, 24, is without a club after being sacked by North Melbourne in February after further allegations about his behaviour towards women emerged.
He has been put on a behaviour program and will only be allowed to return to the AFL if league bosses are satisfied that he has turned a corner.
Essendon coach Brad Scott believes the troubled star deserves a second chance, but Bartel - who experienced and witnessed awful domestic violence while growing up - isn't so sure.
'I feel very uncomfortable with it. I get the whole premise of forgiveness and chances, he's had a number of chances with his alleged behaviour,' Bartel said on Nine's Footy Classified show.
Jimmy Bartel has lashed out at the suggestion troubled former North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas could be playing in the AFL again soon
Thomas was sacked by North Melbourne following allegations about his behaviour to women
'But at some stage there's got to be a fork in the road, because the forgiveness angle hasn't worked. The numbers are actually getting worse.
'I was part of a campaign that was seven years ago, trying to very visually put the AFL as a leader, saying no to domestic violence, starting conversations, parents with children. And we're getting worse.
'So I get your premise of, the AFL, we can lead the charge, we can rehabilitate, we can be a leader in this space.
