North Melbourne talent Tarryn Thomas was “gettable” for rival clubs before Alastair Clarkson’s appointment as senior coach, reports SEN’s Sam Edmund.
Edmund understands Thomas’ management spoke with the Gold Coast Suns months after the midfielder signed a two-year contract extension with the Kangaroos.
But Clarkson’s recent arrival at Arden Street swayed the 22-year-old to stay at the Roos.
Thomas had a difficult 2022 campaign as he grieved the loss of a family member during the season.
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“This let us in to what I like to call the Clarkson effect that I wanted to discuss this morning,” Edmund said on SEN’s Whateley.
“Long speculated, long anticipated, and long predicted what he would mean to North Melbourne and the players there, now coming to fruition in reality.
“Let’s talk about the could haves, the could have been tradeds if it wasn’t for Clarkson coming in and the mystique surrounding him, the curiosity from the players, they want to see it for themselves.
“Now Tarryn Thomas signed a two-year contract in February of this year, in footy speak, that’s five minutes ago. The club wanted a four-year deal, he stuck with two – and I’m told it’s a very lucrative two for that contract as well for him to stay.
“But he endured a really difficult year, he saw some tragedy, he experienced some difficulty in his life and his footy never really got going.
“Not too long ago he was gettable … there was a distinct possibility he was going to push for a trade. Gold Coast – there was at least a conversation had between the Suns and the management company that look after that particular player in Tarryn Thomas.
“But Clarkson’s appointment is the major reason – if not the total reason – that he is now staying put. It was certainly a possibility.”
Thomas, the No.8 pick in the 2018 National Draft, has played 57 games for North Melbourne and is contracted until the end of 2024.