Scott Thompson says there was no upside to challenging his suspension for striking the Magpies’ Travis Cloke.

The defender won’t make the trip to Perth after being outed by the AFL’s Match Review Panel, and despite the temptation to test the waters at the tribunal, it was an easy decision to accept the one-match ban.

“You go through the scenarios and with the gradings there was no movements we could do and no leeway to get out of it,” Thompson told James Brayshaw and Billy Brownless on Triple M’s Rush Hour.

“I was hoping to get the thumbs up from Walshy (Geoff Walsh) but he pointed me to upstairs so I knew I was in a bit of trouble.”

The All-Australian full-back admits he needs to adapt to avoid similar circumstances in the future.

“I think 10 years ago you’d get dropped if you didn’t do that but nowadays the game’s changed and I have to change with it.”

PRESS PLAY above to listen to the full interview.

North will be forced to go in without the man likely to mark Matthew Pavlich. It could open the door for rookie Joel Tippett though.

While disappointed, Thompson is quick to point out a silver lining – more time with his baby daughter.

“She’s (Genevieve) just over a month old. I can’t really do much at this stage so Lauren’s (Thompson’s wife) looking after her and I get to hold her for about an hour a day and that’s it,” he added.

“She was three weeks early too. It was the day before Round 1 so it worked out nicely. My wife’s not listening…so I would have played Round 1 anyway.”