Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel says he's "uncomfortable" with the suggestion disgraced former North Melbourne player Tarryn Thomas could land back on an AFL list as early as next season.
It comes after Essendon coach Brad Scott suggested his club would be open to exploring options to have Thomas, if he could get himself together.
The Bombers are just one of a number of clubs keen to look into adding Thomas to their lists, including Geelong.
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On the eve of the 2024 season, the Kangaroos axed the troubled player after he was initially suspended by the league for 18 matches for alleged inappropriate behaviour.
The AFL found Thomas guilty of inappropriate behaviour towards a female.
Thomas also spent much of the 2023 season bouncing from controversy to controversy.
Now, Bartel says the AFL should take a stand against Thomas' actions and work towards a new way to rehabiliate him, instead of the forgiveness path that failed at the Kangaroos.
Domestic violence is a cause close to Bartel's heart.
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Back in 2016, the Cat grew his beard for the entire season, to raise awareness surrounding domestic violence, after opening up on the horrific experience his own mother had at the hands of his father when he was growing up.
"I feel very uncomfortable with it. I get the whole premise of forgiveness and chances – he's had a number of chances for his alleged behaviour," Bartel said on Nine's Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
"At some stage, there's got to be a fork in the road, because the forgiveness angle hasn't worked, because the (domestic violence) 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 … and we're getting worse.
"I get your premise of 'the AFL can lead the charge and we can rehabilitate', but that whole forgiveness, try again … is not working."
Bartel expressed his apprehension towards the interest in Thomas, all while the AFL takes a stand against domestic violence in round eight.
The league confirmed all 18 sides would take part in a moment's silence across round eight to shine a light on gender-based violence.
The moment's silence will be first observed during the showdown between Port Adelaide and the Crows on Thursday night.
"I lean towards a bit more zero tolerance than others, because that's personal to me," he said.
"I feel incredibly uncomfortable … that we're going to have players arm in arm, another woman dies. I just find it very hard."
As a solution, Bartel says Thomas should be rehabilitated at a lower level league, such as the VFL, taking him out of the AFL spotlight.
"Throw your arms around him, support him, but you don't have to do that at AFL level," he said.
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