When Scott Thompson crashed to the ground after a marking contest late in the game against Adelaide in Round 20, the defender knew he needed to get off the ground and attempt to catch his breath and recover.  Courageously and after medical clearance, he managed to play out the remainder of the game but the impact of that fall has had long-lasting effects.

Bruising around the lung kept the star defender out of the side that played Essendon last Saturday and now, NMFC.com.au can reveal it’s officially season over.

Although the injury Thompson sustained has settled and improved, the 27-year-old cannot afford to risk another heavy knock according to North’s medical team and external specialists.

“He landed pretty heavily on the middle of his back…a little bit to one side,” director of medical services Steve Saunders explained.

“Scans showed he copped a substantial contusion (bruise) to some lung tissue and until that contusion subsides, he can’t be cleared to play again.  The concern is, the same tissue could bleed again and more damage could be done to his lung and obviously that wouldn’t be good for him at all.”

Regarded as an automatic All-Australian selection as a key defender, Thompson has had a career-best year with the Kangaroos and is ranked 6th in the AFL for rebound 50s. Since the first two rounds of the season, Thompson has conceded just 19 goals to his direct opponent. During this 17 game period he has faced the likes of Tom Hawkins, Lance Franklin, Jack Riewoldt and Jonathan Brown.

Saunders says if North was in the finals race, Thompson would be a chance to return.

“The specialist indicated this is normally a four-week injury.  That’s the amount of time it takes for the tissue to heal and be safe to the point of being able to withstand another contusion.  So he’s actually safe now to exercise heavily and to put himself through a fair bit of exertion but it’s other knocks we’re concerned about.”