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In short:
St Kilda says it's not interested in recruiting banned footballer Tarryn Thomas, despite meeting with him on Tuesday.
Coach Ross Lyon refused to answer questions about the banned footballer in a press conference on Friday.
What's next?
Thomas is scheduled to face court in November after being charged by police in May.
St Kilda says it has no interest in drafting disgraced footballer Tarryn Thomas, despite meeting with the banned player on Tuesday.
Coach Ross Lyon faced media scrutiny on Friday when he refused to answer questions about Thomas, as the AFL club faced intense backlash over its meeting with the former North Melbourne player.
Saints head of talent and acquisition Graeme Allan met with Thomas on Tuesday, fuelling speculation the club was set to offer the 24-year-old a career lifeline.
Thomas is currently ineligible to play football at any level after an AFL integrity unit investigation in February found he had engaged in multiple acts of misconduct, including threatening a woman in direct messages.
He was suspended for 18 matches and subsequently axed by North Melbourne.
Thomas is also due to face court on November 21 after being charged in May with "using telecommunications to harass and breaching a court order".
In a short statement delivered on Friday afternoon, St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena said he wished to provide "clarity" on the situation.
"The football department pursues a number of players, as it is our job to find the best talent to fit our team and club," he said.
"Following a course of due diligence, I can confirm that St Kilda will not be pursuing Tarryn Thomas."
News of Allan's meeting with Thomas broke on Wednesday night, prompting many fans to flood St Kilda's social media pages with messages of disapproval.
Lyon faced the media for his weekly press conference at St Kilda's Moorabbin headquarters at midday, but repeatedly said he had been instructed not to talk about the situation around Thomas.
Pressed on whether he was aware of Allen's meeting with Thomas, Lyon said: "I'm really here to talk about the weekend's game.
"I'm a servant of the club and that's the exact instruction that I've been asked to execute on and that I'd adhere to, and I submit to the club's needs."
Thomas was the No.8 draft pick in 2018 and played 69 games for North Melbourne from 2019 to 2023.
His possible return to football would have to be approved by the AFL, which will not make a determination on Thomas's eligibility until there is an outcome in his pending court case.
"Tarryn Thomas is not eligible to play football or sign with any club," the league reiterated in a statement on Friday.
"There is a pending court case in late November and in conjunction with demonstrated behavioural change and continued education a determination will be made post those legal proceedings on any potential eligibility, if any at all.
"Thomas is currently undertaking a comprehensive education and behavioural change program that he will need to successfully complete and then over time consistently demonstrate a change of behaviour for any application on his behalf to even be considered, regardless of the court outcome later this year."
Essendon distanced itself from Thomas in a letter to members in June, after coach Brad Scott had described the player as a "good person".
Scott previously coached Thomas during their time at the Kangaroos.
ABC/AAP
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