After 200 games, Scott Thompson admits that for the first time since his debut ten years ago, he thought his AFL career could be over.

The stoic defender ended the 2017 season in strong form, but when North continued its brave plan to invest in the future and prioritised the re-signings of much younger players, he was suddenly faced with the daunting prospect of being unemployed.

"It was a nervous wait and a situation I'd never really been in. It was a new experience," Thompson told NMFC.com.au in a candid interview.

"You get a phone call and it's either them telling you to, 'look for a new job' or, 'you've still got a job' so you do have to think about life after football ... but it was great North gave me the call and gave me the nod for another year.

"I played my 200th game and it must have been close to being my last game because [I had] six weeks of waiting and then a nod. I think people probably don't understand that your don't sometimes get a ten week liaison into life after football, it [the end] can just happen in a split second."

Thompson holds no grudges though and says he completely understood the situation and agrees with North's aggressive list management approach.

"That's football, it's a business as well," he said.

"The club has to get their list right and if they want you, they want you, and if they don't, they don't, so I understand that and I think everyone should understand that.

"I was really happy that they did extend my career but you have to keep you options open."

If the Roos didn't offer him a the new one-year deal, Thompson revealed other clubs were ready to pounce. However continuing his career in another side's colours wouldn't have been a lay down misere.

"I would love to be a one club player and I think I will be," Thompson said.

"I think I've still got a lot of football left but loyalty is a big thing for me and my family so it would have been a huge decision and lucky I didn't have to make that decision."

According to the 2013 All-Australian and Sy Barker medal winner, no one should be considering 2018 as his last season.

"Everything has to fall into place," he said.

"If I'm playing good football and the club wants me, yeah I'd love to extend my career. I've still got really good football ahead of me ... I'm a competition and I never want to loose. You'd never say this is my last year either because that's the wrong mindset to go in with."