Why these photos from Hannah McGuire’s funeral should make Brad Scott rethink his support for Tarryn Thomas

Brad Scott’s endorsement of Tarryn Thomas played out to the backdrop of emotional scenes on Thursday as the family of Hannah McGuire said goodbye to their loved one.

The body of Ms McGuire was discovered in a burnt-out car near State Forest Rd, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, on April 5. Lachlan Young, 21, has been charged over his ex-partner’s alleged murder.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett and teammate Jake Stringer were among the mourners who spilled out of a Ballarat funeral home on Monday to pay their final respects to the 23-year-old teacher’s aide. 

Merrett and Stringer are believed to be good friends of Ms McGuire’s parents, who own a pub in the country town of Clunes.

The Essendon pair’s attendance at the moving funeral service came just a day after their coach, Scott, publicly backed a return to footy for troubled star Thomas.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett attended the funeral of Hannah McGuire on Thursday

Essendon teammate Jake Stringer was also in attendance at the moving service

Police discovered the remains of Hannah McGuire, 23, in a burnt out car near State Forest Rd, close to Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat in Victoria, just before 10am on Friday

Former North Melbourne star Thomas was sacked by the Kangaroos earlier this year over behaviour relating to domestic violence against women.

However, he is eyeing up a return to the AFL in 2025, should he complete a good behaviour program, and Scott – who coached Thomas at North – believes the midfielder is deserving of a second chance. 

‘As an industry do we just wash our hands and say we’re done with him?’ he asked reporters. ‘Or do we help him? I’d prefer to sit in the help camp.

‘I’ve known Tarryn since he was 14. My view is he’s a good person. But has he made some terrible mistakes? Yes he has and he is the first to admit that.’

The AFL could field uncomfortable questions surrounding Thomas’s return, with the sport making public their stance against domestic violence during this weekend’s round of matches. 

‘I feel very uncomfortable with it. I get the whole premise of forgiveness and chances, he’s had a number of chances with his alleged behaviour,’ footy great Jimmy Bartel said on Nine’s Footy Classified.

The McGuire funeral should make Brad Scott rethink his stance on Tarryn Thomas

‘But at some stage there’s got to be a fork in the road, because the forgiveness angle hasn’t worked. The 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, parents with children. And we’re getting worse.

‘So I get your premise of, the AFL, we can lead the charge, we can rehabilitate, we can be a leader in this space. But this whole, forgiveness, try again try again, is not working. So at some stage, what happened in the past … we’ve actually got to go a bit more of a different direction. I lean a bit towards more zero tolerance than others because that’s personal to me.

‘I’m open to all discussions but I feel incredibly uncomfortable that we’re gonna have players arm-in-arm, another woman dies … I just find it very hard.’

The AFL deemed that Thomas was guilty of conduct unbecoming after he had been found guilty of threatening a woman via direct messages over social media. 

The troubled footy star was sacked this year due to his behaviour towards women

Ultimately, the AFL will have the final say on whether Thomas gets to even train with a club and will also seek their own assurances about his behaviour. 

‘Thomas is not available to play at any level of Australian football until after his 18-game suspension is completed on 22 July and is subject to his compliance with both his sanction and satisfactory progress with his behavioural change program,’ said AFL spokesperson Jay Allen.

‘Both requiring AFL approval, and both of which have not happened. Thomas may only train with another club (at any level) if approved by the AFL, which again has not happened.’

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