He made history in 2016 when he was voted Tasmania's best under-16 and under-18 player at respective national championships in the same year.[6] Thomas was drafted by North Melbourne with their first selection and eighth overall in the 2018 national draft, after being part of North's Next Generation Academy (NGA).[7] He completed school at St Patrick's College, Launceston.
AFL career
Thomas made his debut as a late inclusion in North Melbourne's 21-point loss to the Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium in round 2, 2019.[8] Thomas received a 2019 AFL Rising Star nomination for his two-goal effort in round 12 against Gold Coast.[9] Thomas had a career-best game in round 19 of the 2021 AFL season, where he kicked 4 goals and played a major part in the team's upset win over Carlton.[10]
At the start of 2024, Thomas was found to have engaged in inappropriate behaviour towards a woman, which followed a long list of off-field controversies and indiscretions.[11] He received an 18-game suspension from the AFL, which was subsequently followed by North Melbourne’s decision to sever ties with Thomas ahead of the 2024 AFL season.[12]
Legal issues
In 2023, Thomas was charged with threatening to distribute an intimate image; he was later stood down by the club; he was offered a diversion programme, and Thomas was ordered to pay $1,000 to charity.[13][14][15] The charge was Thomas's second over the 2022–23 AFL off-season after he was previously caught driving while his licence was suspended.[16] Additionally, in a now-deleted Instagram video posted by Thomas, he appeared to have his feet up on a Mercedes dashboard while driving.[17]
In May 2024, Essendon coach Brad Scott said in a televised press interview that Thomas was a "good person" and "deserved a second chance".[18] The comment was slammed by the public at large and by media personalities such as former AFL champion Jimmy Bartel, himself a staunch campaigner against domestic violence.[18][19][20]
Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2022 season.[21]
^The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.