NORTH MELBOURNE has been dealt a major blow on the eve of its Round 22 clash against Hawthorn, with key defender Scott Thompson ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Thompson would have been set for the big job on Hawthorn star Lance Franklin, but instead will be sitting in the stands on Saturday when the two teams meet at Etihad Stadium.

The consistent Kangaroos defender was a late withdrawal from his team’s win over Essendon last weekend with bruising around his lung, an injury sustained in a marking contest against Adelaide the week before.

He was in doubt for Saturday’s match earlier this week, with the club stating he remained in the frame to play, but ruled him out on Thursday, choosing not to risk further damage.

“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,” North Melbourne director of medical services Steve Saunders explained.

“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.”

Thompson kept star forward Lance Franklin goalless when the two teams last met in Round 5 this season and also restricted him to just 12 disposals.

He is North Melbourne’s number one defender, receiving the match-ups on the opposition’s star forward each week.