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Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Fallen AFL star Tarryn Thomas set to be charged by police after allegedly caught in possession of illicit drugs
Troubled ex-North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas is set to be charged after allegedly being caught in possession of illicit drugs. Thomas, 25, had his Lamborghini searched by police over the weekend after he was found parked in a no standing zone. 'Tarryn Thomas and another man were allegedly caught in possession of drugs and deal bags in the CBD of Melbourne,' said AFL reporter Mitch Cleary on Sunday Footy Feast. 'In a statement to 7NEWS, police have confirmed a 24-year-old Thomastown man and a 25-year-old Ormond man are both expected to be charged on summons. 'This came after a Lamborghini that both males were in, were spotted in a no-standing zone. 'Officers then executed a search on that vehicle where they allegedly found the drugs and the deal bags.' It comes as the troubled star has recently been involved in a police investigation after he alleged that he and a friend were held hostage at gunpoint earlier this month. He also claimed that the individuals, who had allegedly held them hostage, had demanded they sign over the papers to his car and give them thousands in cash. Thomas is understood to have now retracted his police statement following the alleged incident. The talented player, who racked up 69 AFL games for the Kangaroos, is currently in the footy wilderness as he assesses his future options. Thomas has struggled to find a club ever since he was sacked by the Kangaroos in 2024, subsequently missing the whole of last season. It came after the AFL imposed an 18-match ban on Thomas over multiple misconduct breaches, including threatening a woman via direct messages. Thomas was forced to sell his luxury apartment and car, at a loss of over $100,000, when he was sacked - and is believed to be now living with his girlfriend, News Corp reported. Thomas and his lawyer are reportedly now working alongside the AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) to assess his future in the sport. Thomas was signed to North Melbourne back in 2018 as pick No 8 in the National Draft. He would go on to make his debut the following year during the Kangaroos' 21-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in Round Two. The 25-year-old received a Rising Star nomination following a game against Gold Coast later that season, where he booted two majors.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Emotional footy star reveals the heartbreaking reason why he 'cheered against' his own team and how he 'despised' AFL during a tough period
An emotional Alex Pearce has described how he 'despised' AFL football for a large period of his career and why he found himself 'cheering against' his own team, after falling victim to multiple horror injuries. After being drafted to Fremantle as pick No 37 of the 2013 National Draft, The 29-year-old would quickly establish himself as a key pillar in the Dockers' backline. But his brilliant start to life in the AFL came crashing down in 2016 when he suffered a horror leg break during their Round 9 defeat by Richmond. The then-emerging young defender, who has captained the side now for three seasons, was ruled out for the remainder of the 2016 season. Complications with the injury forced him out for longer than anticipated, with Pearce, who is now also studying a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Deakin University, suffering a setback in pre-season forced him to miss the entire 2017 campaign. He'd return to play the following year, but would again experience injury woe in 2019, with his year being agonisingly cut short in Round 11 after he broke his ankle. He'd then miss the entire 2020 season as a result. "I despised AFL for a large period because I was so jealous of everyone that was playing." 📺 Watch Alex Pearce on Unfiltered TONIGHT after The Front Bar on Seven and 7plus! — 7AFL (@7AFL) April 30, 2025 Alex Pearce (pictured) has opened up on battling depression during his injury layoff in 2017 and 2019 The Freo star agonisingly missed several seasons of footy after he broke his leg in 2016 before breaking his ankle again in 2019 In an open interview with Hamish McLachlan on Channel 7's Unfiltered, Pearce claimed that his absence from the game changed the way that he thought about footy and his team. Pearce admitted he struggled with depression after breaking his leg for the second time in 2017. 'I was young, I was 20. I hadn't played a lot of games,' he told Mclachlan on Unfiltered. 'Initially, I was like: "Lots of guys have broken their leg", I played with Michael Barlow at the time, great man, he's come back. 'But when I did it again I was like: "Woah, maybe this game is not for me". Pearce became more emotional as he spoke on his injury tribulations. 'At that point, my whole life revolved around playing and being a footballer and that was my main passion. 'I had struggled with some depression. Through that period, I started to learn a bit more about myself and that I'm interested in other things. 'It was tough but because I'd learnt some lessons and I'd built some resilience, I think I was able to manage it better.' But after breaking his leg for the second time, Pearce heartbreakingly admitted that he did not see football in the same light. 'By this stage, my relationship with football had changed, I wasn't watching football games on TV,' he said. 'I despised AFL for a large period because I was so jealous of everyone that was playing.' The Fremantle captain was promoted to the footy club's leadership group in 2018 before succeeding Nat Fyfe as the club's captain in 2023. Pearce, though, also opened up on how he used to 'hate' himself for one act he used to find himself doing when he watched footy on TV during his rehabilitation. 'There's this thing that happens, and I've spoken to other people about it, that when you watch your own team play you're cheering for them but you are also cheering against them because you want to be missed, you want to be needed,' he explained. 'That's the feeling I had and I hated myself for that because I wanted to be this team man who does the best for everyone.' "You're cheering against them because you want to be missed... I hated myself for that." Alex Pearce discusses the mental toll of injury tonight on Unfiltered 🤕 🏉Watch after The Front Bar on Seven and 7plus 👉 — 7AFL (@7AFL) April 30, 2025 However, Pearce's story is an inspiring one. Despite battling with depression and the pain of not being able to play, the 29-year-old, who is affectionately nicknamed 'Moose' by his team-mates, sought out ways that he could still influence and support his team-mates, and that began in the Crossfit room. 'I just remember that was my sort of goal, in a way. I can't play and train with my teammates, but I can go so hard in the crossy (Crossfit) room, that they can notice me. I can invest in them and invest in our group,p and that's my influence,' he said, speaking on how he strove to inspire others to success. 'I've spoken about leadership before but I think it stems from just a desire to be a part of something great. 'If you want to win badly enough, then you'll do whatever it takes. 'I've probably got some traits, but we're a better chance of winning if I can influence those around me to be better.'
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Troubled footy player Tarryn Thomas who claimed to have been held hostage at gunpoint is still hoping for a return to the pitch after being axed by his former club
Former North Melbourne star Tarryn Thomas and his lawyer are reportedly working alongside the AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) to assess his future in the sport. It comes as the 25-year-old has recently been involved in a police investigation after he alleged that he and a friend were held hostage at gunpoint earlier this month, according to Channel Nine. He also claimed that the individuals, who had allegedly held them hostage, had demanded they sign over the papers to his car and give them thousands in cash. Thomas is understood to have now retracted his police statement following the alleged incident. Thomas has struggled to find a club ever since he was sacked by the Kangaroos in 2024, subsequently missing the whole of last season. It came after the AFL imposed an 18-match ban on the 25-year-old over multiple misconduct breaches. At the beginning of the 2025 season, Thomas had attempted to join up with the Northern Bullants in the VFL while other sides were also interested in signing him to their roster. The footy player had also been told by the AFL that he could play at state-league level but only for a club that is not an affiliate of an AFL side. The Bullants had expressed a desire to sign him but received widespread backlash over the move. The footy club's board of directors subsequently decided against adding the 25-year-old to their list. In February, Thomas also came close to joining up with Western Australia side, Swan Districts, but they too announced publicly that they would be snubbing the midfielder - who had moved to Perth in order to begin a two-week trial with the side. The Swans then decided that they would not be moving forward with their attempts to sign Thomas after multiple members of their women's side had expressed their displeasure at the move. A sponsor at Port Melbourne also stated that it would not accept his addition to the club's list, even though the side had given consideration to signing the 25-year-old. Thomas is understood to be ineligible to register for the 2025 mid-season draft. The Herald Sun adds that the league has not made a decision on whether he will be allowed to return in 2026. Now, his legal team and the AFLPA are understood to be working to assess whether he will ever be given the green light to return to play AFL footy. Sources close to him say, according to The Herald Sun, that the AFL's move to allow him to return to state-level footy came at a timely point, giving him only a few options at VFL level. The Herald Sun also reports that while the footy player accepted a payout from the Kangaroos following his dismissal, he was forced to sell a luxury car and apartment, worth around $100,000. He has since turned to religion, heading down to a local Sunday service and has been keeping fit in the gym. Thomas was signed to North Melbourne back in 2018 as pick No 8 in the National Draft. He would go on to make his debut the following year during the Kangaroos' 21-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in Round Two. The 25-year-old received a Rising Star nomination following a game against Gold Coast later that season, where he booted two majors. During his time with the club, he would return 56 goals across across 69 appearances.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How a Hollywood blockbuster has kicked an AFL team off their ground
A Hollywood blockbuster has taken over Geelong's GMHBA Stadium for two weeks. Superman actor David Corenswet has hired out the 40,000-capacity stadium in order to shoot his latest film, according to Channel 7. The Cats are not due to return to the stadium for the next fortnight, as they take on Carlton this weekend at the Marvel Stadium before squaring off against Collingwood at the MCG. Movie makers are also set to go on location at La Trobe University Sports Park in Bundoora and will flip footy pitches into American football stadiums for Corenswet's upcoming blockbuster, which is expected to be called Mr Irrelevant. The film is based on the life of pro footballer John Tuggle, a running back who played for the New York Giants. He was the last pick in the 1983 National Draft and was nicknamed Mr Irrelevant as a result. The nickname is a monniker that many players who are selected last in the rostering recieve. He became the first player in the league's history to be picked last in the draft but would still go on to make the team that drafted him, replacing Rob Carpenter mid-way through the 1983 season. Tuggle tragically died at the age of 25 after being diagnosed with cancer. Corenswet is understood to be playing the role of Tuggle while legendary Hollywood screenwriter Jonathan Levine will direct the film. Oscar-winner Michael Shannon is also set to play the roll of Bill Parcells, a former NFL head coach. 'The state's amazing sports facilities and varied locations can double locations like New York, California and Mexico, so we knew there was no better place to bring this project to life,' Skydance EVP of physical production Brad Carlson said. Geelong's training will not be affected by the filming work, according to the club, with the Cats also set to use their alternative training base at Deakin University for upcoming training sessions. Meanwhile, Corenswet's latest instalment to the Superman franchise will be released later this year on July 11.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The hidden costs behind Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's absence, as Dogs 'despair' over star's future
The hidden cost behind Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's saga with the Western Bulldogs has reportedly come to light after claims were made that his club were 'despairing' over his future. Footy reporter, Jon Ralph, has claimed that even in his absence from the footy club, the 23-year-old star, who was snapped up as a No 1 pick in the 2020 National Draft, is set to keep his roughly $800,000 salary. The footy star is yet to feature for the side this season, having also been training on a flexible basis as he works his way through several personal problems. No time frame has been given on when he could return, though he has been pictured training with his team-mates in recent weeks. Uncertainty has also been growing over whether he could leave the footy club this year. But as Ralph writes in the Herald Sun, AFL Player Association (AFLPA) rules relating to player contracts provide protection to the key forward's reported $800k contract. The reporter adds, though, that the Bulldogs are keen to sit down with the AFLPA over whether he could continue to receive his salary in full. Both the footy club and members of the AFL's welfare teams have sought to help the footy star through the ongoing issue and according to Ralph, there is hope from within the club that the issue won't end in Ugle-Hagan being docked his salary or being forced into a long-term absence. 'They'd have to tell Jamarra: "You're not the part-time footballer right now with a flexible arrangement. You're a full-time football — you come to every recovery session, every training session and every planning session. If you don't do that, we doc your pay",' Ralph said to Fox Footy's Midweek Tackle. 'I think it's less likely, but they're looking for a light bulb moment there. He's had a good couple of days, but let's face it, he's only had a good couple of days for the last six weeks — and very few of them over the last six months. 'I think it's coming to a head. Jamarra needs to change and he's not prepared to do that right now.' With Sam Darcy set to be ruled out due to an ACL injury, Luke Beveridge is having to get creative with his forward line but his immediate fix will not include Ugle-Hagan. The 23-year-old was the Dogs top scorer last season, booting 43 majors but last week, Beveridge told reporters that the youngster's future was in the hands of the AFL. Meanwhile, News Corp's Scott Gullan has added that the Bulldog's have left a 'black hole' in their roster, by using six draft picks to arrange a bid for the 23-year-old No 1 pick during the 2020 Draft. 'This is something the Dogs have been thinking about and discussing internally. If this continues to go south and Jamarra doesn't play again for the Dogs, at least this year, it's wiped out the whole 2020 draft,' he added on Fox's Midweek Tackle. "I'm starting to feel for the Western Bulldogs and I'm disappointed for them." In light of the Jamarra Ugle-Hagan saga, Matthew Lloyd wonders whether there should be an extra clause to terminate contracts in special circumstances. #9FootyClassified | Watch on Nine & 9Now 🖥️ — Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) April 21, 2025 'The Dogs spent all year getting draft picks, they had six draft picks they had to compile that got enough points. 'If they didn't have to do that, they have all those picks — valued from Pick 26 to Pick 50. In that range there's players like Beau McCreery, Shannon Neale, Ollie Lord, Corey Durdin and Nathan O'Driscoll. 'So the Dogs have got this gap in their list because they put all the eggs in the Jamarra basket. It made so much sense and we understood it, but the system meant they had to give all this up. 'So now they're looking back going: "If Jamarra doesn't play for us again, we only had one other pick in that draft and he's already been delisted". 'There's a complete black hole and now they might even lose Jamarra as well. It's hurting them big time and is going to keep hurting them.' It comes as St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt has criticised Ugle-Hagan after the footy star had published pictures and videos of himself partying on social media. 'There can be real reasons, legitimate reasons, but when you're behaving the way that Jamarra is you forfeit all rights,' Riewoldt said on Channel Seven. 'This is the issue, there is no mechanism for clubs to be protected. 'Not just the clubs but the players you're teammates with that are actually fronting up day after day doing the work for the cause, and you've got a teammate that is not buying in and is still taking five or six, seven per cent of the salary cap with no recourse from the football clubs.' Matthew Lloyd has also claimed that he is beginning to feel sympathetic towards the Bulldogs over the saga. 'You'd think to yourself: "We've got Norton, Darcy and Ugle-Hagan." So you'd think we've got good cover,' Lloyd told Channel 9. 'No Weightman as well. You understand Weightman and Darcy but [on Ugle-Hagan] it's so disappointing - obviously, mental health is a big thing. 'I feel for the Western Bulldogs, Damo, for the fact that to hear a coach say he trains sometimes, then we don't see him. I'm starting to feel for the Western Bulldogs and say I'm disappointed for them. 'You can sense that he's never going to play for the Western Bulldogs ever again. 'It had me thinking, can the clubs cover themselves in the future and have a clause inserted that says: "You're using it to a point that is benefitting you and it goes past just mental health." 'Can you terminate or have the ability to in the future?' If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 24 at any time of the day, seven days a week for anonymous support and guidance.
