Brent Harvey Biography

Brent Harvey is inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Mick Malthouse will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning premiership coach on 2017, while North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey will be the premiership cup ambassador.

As has been expected, James Hird will present the Norm Smith Medal.

North Melbourne is retiring the No.29 jumper indefinitely following League games record-holder Brent Harvey's departure from the AFL at the end of last season.

"I didn't expect the No.29 to be retired, I think it's a fantastic gesture though from the football club," Harvey said.

"I wore it for 21 seasons, so to have no one run around in it next year will be a little bit strange when I watch the boys play.

"(I'm) obviously very privileged that the club have chosen to do that."

Brent Harvey will return to North Melbourne in 2017 in a mentoring capacity.

As part of the role, Harvey will work with the club's father-son prospects and the next generation academy.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the next generation of players come through and really start making their mark on the competition," Harvey said.

"I'll take a hands-on role with them over the next two years, helping to guide them and be there as a support mechanism in terms of their on-field and off-field development."

Brent Harvey announces his retirement from AFL football at North Melbourne's best and fairest count.

"I think my footy is good enough to go on and the fact that I love my footy so much is why this has been such a tough decision," Harvey said.

"My decision not to pull on another team jumper is the reason why I'd like to announce my retirement from AFL footy.

"It's been an amazing journey. I would have been extremely privileged to play one game for the North Melbourne Football Club, let alone play here for 21 years."

The fallout from Brent Harvey's split with North Melbourne continues with Boomer's wife, Shayne, revealing the Harvey children have jumped on the Bulldogs' bandwagon.

"My 12-year-old (Cooper) and four-year-old (Hudson) have totally jumped on the bandwagon," she said.

"Cooper totally has jumped ship. He's asked for a membership for the Bulldogs.

"When Brent got sacked, he said 'Mum, can you go and get me a new jumper? I want a Bulldogs jumper'."

Clubs are yet to express interest in North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey as the veteran weighs up whether to play at another club in 2017.

"The clubs aren't ringing me and I'm not ringing them," Harvey's manager Shane Casley said.

"We've met with no club and we've had no offers from clubs. There's been some dialogue but that's been about all there is."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says he regrets announcing during the season that veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo would not be offered contracts for 2017 by the club.

Scott said he stuck by his promise to inform the quartet as soon as possible, but acknowledged he would have waited until the Kangaroos' season had ended before making a public announcement.

"We were very disappointed that it was messaged the way it was but in terms of the players themselves, 'Boomer' [Harvey] in particular, he doesn't feel disrespected in any way, shape or form," Scott said.

"If I had my time again, I still would've told him because I gave him that commitment that I'd tell him, but I probably would've said, 'Mate, it's not the time now to announce it ? You know so you've got some clarity around the situation but for the club's sake, we need to announce this post-season'.

"No doubt the messaging to the members didn't go as we would've liked but in terms of the relationship with the players involved and the honesty and integrity that was shown, I have absolutely no issue with that."

Brent Harvey has revealed the fire in the belly remains to extend his career into a 22nd season.

"100 per cent (the fire remains). My ability, I think my footy still says play on," he told The Footy Show.

"If my footy had gone downhill a little bit, I think I'm surrounded by people who are honest enough to say, I think you need to step away now.

"I think there'll be a little bit (of interest), something for me to consider, even if that's one club, it's still something to consider."

Brent Harvey says he believes he is still capable of playing at the elite level in 2017 based on his form in 2016.

"I understand the direction he [Kangaroos coach Brad Scott] wants to take, 100 per cent, but I don't agree because I still think my footy's got so much to offer," Harvey told Channel Nine.

"I think my football says 'yes, absolutely you can go around again', and Brad said that to me.

"He goes, 'You're in our top handful of players. Will you be next year? Yeah, you probably will be next year as well but looking forward (to) 2018, '19, '20 if you do that, we're not blooding these young guys'.

"I understand his vision (but) I don't agree with it because I feel like my footy says, '100 per cent you've got to play next year'."

North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey made an emotional farewell after bringing his illustrious 432-game career at the Kangaroos to a close.

The AFL/VFL games record-holder picked up 25 possessions in his club's 62-point elimination final loss to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Both clubs formed a tunnel to honour Harvey along with fellow departing veterans Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito as they left the ground, while Harvey also gave a thumbs up to the Kangaroos supporters.

The decision to axe AFL games record-holder Brent Harvey might have been unpopular but North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says it's his job to make the tough decisions.

"I've got a job to do and sometimes it's a tough job. It's a job where you're going to have some people agree and disagree, and that's leadership," Scott said.

"Leadership is making decisions that are not popular. Making the hard decision instead of the easy decision."

Brent Harvey has used his personal Facebook page to speak to fans after North Melbourne's shock decision not to offer the VFL-AFL games record holder a new deal.

"Brad and those in charge had a tough decision to make. I’m not angry at them about it at all, and have been in footy long enough to understand how it all works and that no individual is ever, bigger than the club," Harvey wrote.

"More than anything, I appreciate Brad’s honesty because I put him in a difficult situation when I asked to know where I stood. He did the right thing and told us all the truth."

North Melbourne has dropped a bombshell by announcing veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo will not be offered new contracts for 2017.

The news comes with one round left in the home and away season and with the Roos' finals campaign still to play out.

"The club is indebted to these four individuals for their professionalism, leadership, attitude and competitiveness," a statement from the club read.

North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey has backed the Kangaroos' controversial decision to not offer veteran quartet Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo contracts for 2017.

"I know it's sad but unfortunately the club is bigger than any one individual," Carey said.

"Clearly they have not come to this decision lightly. [North Melbourne coach] Brad Scott and others that have sat down and have made it for the benefit of the club for the next 15 or 20 years going forward."

North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw says future considerations dictated the club's need to cull their veteran quartet that included Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo.

"I think we needed a pretty aggressive reset to give our club the best chance of playing in and winning its fifth premiership," Brayshaw said.

"I think we need to get back to the draft, we need to get some really good quality kids into the place.

"We've got some already, but we need to add to that and we would be looking in this next five-year period to have a very strong on-field performance with sustained on-field success."

Brent Harvey kicks a goal in the final quarter his record-breaking 427th match against St Kilda courtesy of a handball from North Melbourne teammate Lindsay Thomas.

"I was lucky Lindsay gave me a little goal at the end," Harvey said.

"He marked one in the goalsquare and I was going over to him to give him a little pat on the backside after he marked it, and he said 'Do you want this?'.

"I sort of looked around and I thought 'Yep', and I got a little cheap one.

"That's the kind of guy Lindsay is. He said to me during the week 'I'm going to get you a goal' and he certainly did that."

Having surpassed Hawk Michael Tuck's previous record of 426 games, Harvey said his own final tally wasn't of concern to him.

"I've got no idea. I'll be on 428 next week and that's all that matters, because we've got another huge game," he said.

"I know it's a cliché to you guys (media), but for us, we've got our 12 wins now, and that was the objective at the start of the year."

Brent Harvey has confirmed he knocked back lucrative offers from Hawthorn and Carlton to leave North Melbourne, with the Blues offering him as much as $700,000 a season and the club captaincy.

Writing in his autobiography Boomer, Harvey said the Carlton offer came in the early 2000s when dual Kangaroos premiership coach Denis Pagan was with the Blues.

Harvey said Carlton’s first offer was $600,000 but grew to about $700,000 – plus the chance to lead the club. Anthony Koutoufides was Carlton skipper at the time. Harvey said he wasn’t sure whether the Blues would have anointed him immediately or elevated him once Koutoufides retired.

“This proposal was significant and one I had to get my head around. There’s no doubt, if I had accepted it, I would have been in the top-five highest paid players in the competition,” Harvey said.

He said the Hawks tried to lure him in 2000 with a three-year, $1.2 million offer that left him “sick to my stomach” contemplating leaving the Roos.

Despite having agreed to take several pay cuts when North was struggling financially, Harvey said he couldn’t bring himself to leave Arden Street.

“I can honestly say, even if the Blues’ offer had been a million dollars a year, I still would have knocked it back,” he said.

“I swear on my kids: no offer would have swayed me because what I was earning was more than fair and North meant the world to me.”

North Melbourne greats Brent Harvey and Wayne Carey have resolved their spat that threatened to mar Saturday's major milestone.

Harvey will play his 427th match this Saturday night, breaking the all-time record that Hawthorn legend Michael Tuck has held since 1991.

Extracts from Harvey's new book 'Boomer' were published on the weekend and he was highly critical of Carey.

Harvey said on Monday he had apologised to his former captain.

In the book, Harvey described Carey's extra-marital affair with the wife of their then teammate Anthony Stevens as despicable.

The book also alleged North paid hush money to protect Carey's reputation.

Carey duly hit back on radio, saying it was terribly sad that Harvey had sensationalised allegations that had never happened.

He flatly denied North paid any hush money to protect him.

Carey said he called Harvey on Sunday night to resolve their differences, describing the start of the phone conversation as "robust".

"The fact that he's come out and apologised and says he's made a mistake, I'm more than prepared to move on. I'm not one that holds a grudge," Carey told Channel Seven on Monday night.

"It'd be fair to say it [the phone call] started out a little robust, but finished in a way that he was genuine in his apology and I felt that over the phone, and (I) spoke to him again this morning before his press conference."

Earlier on Monday, Harvey said he had cleared the air with his former teammate and was keen to move on.

"For me, a lot of it was rumour ... it wasn't fact," Harvey said.

"In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have put it in the book, but unfortunately I have.

"He has a lot of rumours in his life and you probably could write a whole book on the (rumours) and Wayne Carey.

"For me, I just want to put it on the table right now, that was rumour and innuendo and I apologised to him, he accepted that, which is fantastic."

Jade Gresham is the round 14 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee after collecting 16 disposals to go along with eight inside 50s as well as kicking a crucial goal from tight in the pocket to cut the in the Saints' upset three-point win over the ladder-leading Cats.

Gresham, who hails from the South Morang Football Club, has continued to receive advice from North Melbourne champion and family friend Brent Harvey.

Gresham's father, Jamie, played in the Northern Knights' 1995 premiership victory alongside Harvey and the Kangaroos star has kept a close eye on Gresham's development.

"Over the last few years I've been in touch with him a fair bit and he's been there to help me out," Gresham said.

"He's really good at giving me a few tips here and there. He's been a ripper for me."

Brent Harvey narrowly escaped serious injury while at home after he cut his leg with a chainsaw when cutting down a tree.

"I was cutting a tree down and slipped with the chainsaw going at full throttle," Harvey wrote on Facebook with a photo of the slight gash on his knee.

"Nicked my leg and am very lucky to have escaped with only this cut!"

Brent Harvey will get the chance to break Michael Tuck's VFL/AFL games record after re-signing with North Melbourne for 2016.

Harvey said he doubted talk of breaking Tuck's record would become a distraction next year.

"I think it's been talked about already. Every interview I do it gets brought up, so I'm happy with where that sits," he said.

"I don't play to break Michael Tuck's record, that's for sure.

"I'm here for one reason and one reason only.

"I probably would have hung up the boots if I didn't believe that this club could go to the pinnacle and that's to win a premiership and that's certainly my drive."

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott says he still hasn't given Brent Harvey the green light to play on at North Melbourne next year, but says the evergreen midfielder is fine with that.

"'Boomer' came to speak to me about making sure that I keep the foot on his throat and that I hold him accountable to all of the things that we value," Scott said.

"He's actually talking about the opposite – he's worried about this week and next week. He's got a really short-term focus at the moment and that's a credit to him."

North Melbourne demolish Brisbane to the tune of 72 points in Brent Harvey's 400th game.

"I reckon it's a reflection on Boomer himself that his 21 teammates want to get out there and perform for him," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"I said to the players after the game; in life the respect of your peers is almost the ultimate honour. The way they get up for him reflects that respect."

Brent Harvey defends Brad Scott after the North Melbourne coach was seen to be ambivalent about his future at the Kangaroos in 2016.

"The thing about Brad ... you get asked the question, you have to answer it," Harvey said.

"For Brad, he's damned if he does and he's damned if he doesn't. If he doesn't answer it, there's going to be a lot more speculation.

"The thing I can say with Brad, our relationship is fantastic."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says the chance that Brent Harvey will break Michael Tuck's AFL games record if he plays on next season will play no part in the looming decision on his future.

"[The Tuck record] hasn't entered my thinking," Scott said.

"I think it would have entered the thinking of a lot of fans and a lot of football media, but it's not something that the club will look back and think Brent's had a better career if he's played 427 games than if he plays just over 400.

"If he's playing really well, his body holds up and he's playing his role for the team, then there's every chance that he plays on.

"But if he's not able to do that for whatever reason then we'll do the best thing by the club."

Brent Harvey plans to enjoy his 400th AFL game before sitting down to discuss his future with North Melbourne coach Brad Scott.

"I've always said that if my body's good and my mind's sound then I'm happy to go again (but) it's not just up to me - it's up to the football club and Brad," Harvey said.

"It's usually around this time of year that I sit down with him and go through a few things. This year's probably no different.

"(After I play game number) 400 (I'll then) go in next week, knock on his door and sit down with him and see what he's thinking."

Brent Harvey believes he will be the last person to play 400 AFL games, saying the demands of the sport are now too great for anyone else to reach the milestone.

Harvey will become just the fourth player in League history to play 400 games when he runs out against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba this week.

"I think 400 is a milestone that won't happen again. I honestly believe that I'll be the last player to do that," Harvey said.

"[I don't mean] to sound big-headed or anything like that, but the game has changed so much and certainly if I had started 10 years ago I wouldn't be playing 400 games, there's no way known.

"When I first started it was three days a week training. You could certainly come in and do a little bit extra if needed, but there were three days a week of training, two weight sessions and that was pretty much it.

"Now we're at the football club from 8am to 3pm every day expect for one day during that week. Not only physically but mentally, it grinds you down a little bit.

"Things have just got bigger, harder and longer. So for that reason I don't think anyone will reach the 400 milestone again."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says naming Brent Harvey as the substitute in the Kangaroos' win over Geelong was a warning to the veteran midfielder.

In a move that shocked many, Harvey, in his 398th game, was handed the green vest.

Before Saturday night, the 37-year-old had never started as a sub, nor been subbed out of a game.

Harvey had struggled to fire in the Kangaroos' deplorable loss against Gold Coast last Saturday, despite tallying 23 disposals.

"Boomer probably by his own admission hasn't performed the role we've asked him to play on a few occasions this year," Scott said after the 41-point win over the Cats.

"We had a pretty honest and frank conversation. We've got a great relationship and we talk all the time and it was a pretty simple coach-player conversation.

"Whilst being the sub wasn't a punishment, he needed to know that if he's not going to listen to my words, he might listen to my actions."

Harvey echoed Scott's post-match sentiments and said he had not been playing his role in the squad.

"The conversations that I had with Brad during the week was when things aren't going right for our team, I try too hard and do things outside my role," Harvey told Channel Seven.

"It's not a punishment but it sort of half is.

"We just spoke about playing my role regardless of the scoreboard (and) just going out there and making sure that I fulfil my role for that team."

Brent Harvey says his body is feeling sound enough at this stage for him to strongly consider playing on in 2016.

"If it was round 16 or 17 right now, absolutely 100 per cent want to play (in 2016)," Harvey told Channel Nine.

"The body is good, the mind is good.

"I still think my output is of the standard and I'm contributing to wins, that's the most important thing."

Brad Scott says North Melbourne is not topping up its list to try and win a premiership before star veterans Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie retire.

And the North coach is confident the Roos' flag window won't close once Harvey, who turns 37 in May, and Petrie, 32, hang up their boots.

"We think that the next era of success for North Melbourne will be heavily influenced by Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie, whether they play in that successful period or not," Scott said.

"We've never taken our eyes off the future. We've invested really heavily in the draft, but we're looking to improve our list each year."

Tom Rockliff insists there's no bad blood with North Melbourne great Brent Harvey, despite a mid-season spat that prompted an AFL investigation.

I don't think there's any bad blood at all," Rockliff said.

"It wasn't ideal circumstances what happened, but I called and apologised to him and went over it and he said he was fine and looked forward to having a beer when we catch up.

"Hopefully we get an opportunity to have a beer with the group and have a laugh with it.

"I think everyone's moved on. I've never actually met him, but I don't think it'll come up to be honest.

"It happened, we've moved on. It's in the past now."

Brent Harvey hopes he will be greeted by high-fives instead of the usual boos when he runs out onto Patersons Stadium next month when he lines up for Australia for the November 22 showdown against Ireland in Perth.

Harvey has become enemy No.1 amongst Fremantle and West Coast fans in recent years, especially after his series of run-ins with the likes of Ryan Crowley, Scott Selwood, Daniel Kerr and Adam Selwood.

"Hopefully the Perth crowd get behind me," Harvey said.

"Hopefully we win and I give a few high-fives out and they enjoy me."

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood has deemed Brent Harvey's hit on him "an accident" and will head to the Tribunal in a bid to have the veteran's one-match ban overturned so that Harvey can play in North Melbourne's upcoming preliminary final.

"The contact, I was running at speed, he was running at speed, it happens, accidents happen," Selwood said.

"I got a phone call from (Geelong football manager) Neil Balme this morning and he said 'Are you free tomorrow night if you're needed?' And I said 'Yeah, I'm available'."

Brent Harvey is cleared by the Tribunal to face the Sydney Swans in Friday night's preliminary final after Geelong captain Joel Selwood gave key evidence to help clear the North Melbourne veteran.

The Tribunal deemed that clash, which occurred in last Friday night's semi final at the MCG, was of insufficient force to constitute rough conduct.

Geelong submitted a medical report that stated it was possible Selwood could bleed more above his right eye because of past injuries to the area.

Champion Data statistics were also submitted, showing Selwood had left the ground under the blood rule 14 times in the past three seasons – more than any other player.

"I think he (Selwood) just came in and told the truth. If I see him out after we play in a Grand Final I will certainly buy him a beer," Harvey said.

"You would never know, it's an absolutely amazing feeling.

"Obviously I missed the first final, but I get to run out with them again this week, so I'm absolutely stoked and can't wait for this weekend."

Brent Harvey will head to the Tribunal in a bid to play in Friday night's preliminary final against Sydney after he was hit with a one-match ban by the Match Review Panel for his hit on Geelong skipper Joel Selwood.

Harvey's bad record means he cannot accept a discounted early plea for the bump, which left Selwood with a cut above his right eye.

An early plea would reduce the sanction by 25 per cent to 133.88 points, which would remain at a one-week suspension.

Even if the club fails in a bid to overturn the decision at the AFL Tribunal, Harvey is not risking missing any extra matches.

Brent Harvey admits his preparation for Friday night's preliminary final against the Swans has been as impacted as he waits for the Match Review Panel to decide his fate.

The 36-year-old collided with Geelong skipper Joel Selwood in the second term of Friday night's semi-final win, forcing the Cats star from the field with a gash above his eye.

Harvey faces a nervous wait for Monday's MRP findings, with the midfielder burdened by 41 carry-over points and a 10 per cent poor record loading from his three-game ban after a round 21 misconduct charge.

"You go to bed, last night I watched the last little bit of football and then Basil (Zempilas) says Brent Harvey's going to be the big news … and then you just put your head on the pillow and it runs fresh through your mind," Harvey said.

"It'd be good if it was over and done with now."

Brent Harvey says he is relieved to be back in the North Melbourne side for their elimination final against Geelong after being suspended for three weeks and missing the team's first final against Essendon.

"Saturday night I was very nervous going into the game and driving there knowing that I was helpless to help the boys," Harvey said.

"They've done me a massive favour and now I'm pretty excited.

"The fact I wasn't there really, really [cut] deep.

"Now I want to repay the boys, I want to repay the football club, our supporters and everybody to do with the North Melbourne Football Club."

Brent Harvey says he needs to to learn self-restraint after being handed a three-match ban following two charges of misconduct against Bulldogs tagger Liam Picken.

"The thing for me, I guess, is I've got to take responsibility for my actions," Harvey said.

"You can blame who you want to blame, but we went to the Tribunal, we pled guilty to a case of misconduct, and I got three weeks.

"I got my right whack. That's what happens in football. I'm very disappointed … Brad and the boys are very disappointed."

Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney has backed tagger Liam Picken after North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey was suspended for three matches when he retaliated against Picken's close-checking tactics.

"He did his job for his team, played to his strengths and unfortunately an incident arose," McCartney said.

"He dealt with [the Harvey incident] like a man. He's a fantastic Western Bulldogs person. But I really want to commend him for his manliness.

"If Liam had actually got up and done what a lot of us with a short temper would do, it would have been a bigger issue. I thought he conducted himself pretty well."

Brent Harvey is referred straight to the Tribunal after a non-broadcast camera captured the veteran slamming Western Bulldogs tagger Liam Picken into the turf.

Harvey was then seen striking Picken with a forearm to the throat.

Brent Harvey is suspended for three games following a double misconduct charge against him for flipping Liam Picken to the ground before striking the Western Bulldogs tagger with a forearm to the throat.

Harvey's advocate Justin Hannebery broke the incident down to two phases, pleading guilty to the initial hip-toss but arguing the 36-year-old attempted to then stand up when the Western Bulldogs tagger held him down.

"I don't think I had any other option," Harvey testified.

"He made contact with me and grabbed me with both hands.

"I tried to get up and get some leverage to push up ... he was pulling me down with force," he added, likening it to a "tug of war".

"Not at one stage did I want to hurt him .. or cause him pain."

Brent Harvey will extend his career into a 20th season after signing a one-year deal with North Melbourne to play on in 2015.

"I'm certainly not playing for 400 games, I'm playing to win a premiership, so if I look too far ahead I'll just play footy and I won't play good footy," Harvey said.

"I control what I've got control of now and that's playing some good footy and hopefully winning some games and if I do that [the rest] will take care of itself."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott believes the substitute rule will help club veteran Brent Harvey pass the 400-game mark and join Michael Tuck and Kevin Bartlett in the illustrious AFL/VFL club.

"If he plays long enough he'll get there and there's no reason to say he wouldn't keep playing next year and beyond – that sounds unbelievable but you just look at his output and the way he trains," Scott told SEN Radio.

"I think the sub rule's really going to help, I think he'd be a pretty devastating little sub if he came on half way through the third quarter.

"Along with Dustin Fletcher, they break the mould in terms of players post-30 - you generally think they start to decline, but Boomer's playing as well as he ever has and he honestly never misses a session.

"He recovers quicker in between games than anyone else; genetically he's obviously gifted, but the work he puts in is unbelievable."

Fifteen years after they last played in the same North Melbourne side together, Sydney Swans coach John Longmire can only marvel at the impact Brent Harvey continues to make in the AFL.

"I played with 'Boomer' and he's still playing well," Longmire said.

"He's a really, really top-line player.

"He'll go down in the history of the North Melbourne Football Club as one of the all-time greats.

"He's still playing at an extremely high level and he's still a thorn in opposition teams' side.

"His impact on games is still high and he's not just getting through his career, he's almost getting better and better.

"I don't know what he's eating, but I'll have to get on that diet."

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott says Brent Harvey will step down from the leadership group in 2014 to allow the next generation of North Melbourne leaders, including current skipper Andrew Swallow, to emerge.

"Brent will selflessly step out of the leadership group this year and take a really active role in mentoring our emerging leaders and I think that will certainly help Andrew grow as well," Scott said.

"We were really keen for a new captain to take over while Brent Harvey was still playing and now Brent is really keen for Andrew to stand up (and) take the captaincy without the figuratively large shadow of Brent Harvey hanging over him."

Brisbane draftee Lewis Taylor says he has looked up to North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey for most of his youth.

"I'm a big fan of Boomer," Taylor said.

"I just like the way he plays the game, takes it on. He's obviously been around for a long time and I've loved watching him.

"He's about my height as well, so he's good to watch and follow and learn things off."

Brent Harvey will extend his career to a 19th season after signing a one-year deal with the Kangaroos to keep playing in 2014.

"I've always been pretty keen for him to play on but we wanted to wait until pretty late in the season to make an absolute decision on him, just with how he was feeling mentally and physically," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"You can't argue with his form, it's been terrific. Mentally he's as driven as ever and as driven as any player I've seen and physically he's in great shape. So it makes it a pretty easy decision."

Brent Harvey's teammates believe the veteran is capable of playing for another two years, potentially stretching his career to 20 seasons and beyond 400 games.

"He's an absolute superstar. He's not slowing down, he keeps racking up the numbers and keeps having a real influence, so why wouldn't he keep going?" Ryan Bastinac said.

"We all mention 400 games to him. It would be nice if he could get there. It's obviously up to him and how his body is feeling, but the way he's playing he could easily play for another two years."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Brent Harvey deserves better protection from the umpires as the current rules prevent him from protecting himself.

"If that was 30 years ago and he was subjected to what he was subjected to on the weekend, he would have just dropped Ryan Crowley," Scott said.

"But he did that in the final over there in Perth last year and got six weeks.

"Boomer would prefer that 30 years ago he could react like he did in the final last year, but we're not prepared to have him sitting on the sidelines for six weeks.

"The player's either got to be defended by the umpire or he's got to have the right to defend himself."

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon defends Ryan Crowley after the tagger was charged and fined for pinching Brent Harvey.

"He's disappointed with what's been asserted," Lyon said about Crowley's reaction to the charge.

"I back Ryan 100 per cent. If Ryan was out there pinching players I would have a problem with it internally.

"We can make light of it but it's a serious assertion and a disappointing one."

Ryan Crowley's misconduct charge for pinching is upheld by the Tribunal after Brent Harvey provides evidence at the hearing, claiming he was pinched "about 300 times".

Docker Ryan Crowley has been charged with pinching North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey during their clash at Patersons Stadium.

Crowley was charged after a Match Review Panel Investigation and has been offered a $900 fine for entering an early guilty plea.

If he elects to contest the charge and is found guilty, his fine will be increased to $1200.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said both players had a good contest while on the field.

"Boomer has played 350-plus games. I reckon he might have got away with 20 games at the start of his career, maybe 10, when he wasn't subjected to that sort of defensive pressure, but he's had it for his whole career so it's nothing new," Scott said.

"The majority of his career he has won those battles. Today, Crowley was very good for Fremantle."

Brent Harvey will return to the Kangaroos' side after serving a six-game suspension and says he regrets his time out.

"Obviously I do feel guilty because I should have been out there helping my teammates, but I think it was more frustration knowing how well we were playing but couldn't get the result on the board," Harvey said.

Andrew Swallow wins the Syd Barker Medal - his third North Melbourne best and fairest award in four years.

Swallow tallied 60 votes ahead of Scott Thompson with 49 and Brent Harvey with 45.

Brent Harvey will take up a coaching role with North Melbourne next season as he serves his six-week suspension.

"People close to me know I do love my football, so I definitely will pursue that (coaching) after football," Harvey told The Footy Show.

"This will certainly give me a taste of what it's about, and six weeks is a long time.

"I've just got to find something that can really help the football club now and put my best foot forward and help these young guys develop as quickly as possible."

North veteran Brent Harvey's six-match suspension remains after losing his appeal.

"No, I don't regret appealing because I thought we needed to do it. When you're innocent you don't really want to cop what they served up," Harvey said.

"I was very confident [before the appeal]. [It's] the same situation as last week - I'm going to be missing six weeks of the AFL season in 2013. It's very disappointing."

Brent Harvey is banned for first six weeks of 2013 after the AFL Tribunal night upheld two striking charges against him from the elimination final loss to West Coast.

"[Missing] six weeks of football at any time of your career is absolutely devastating," Harvey told reporters after the hearing.

"I'm absolutely shattered I'll be missing six games of football for out football club."

Brent Harvey has signed a contract extension, ensuring he will play a 17th season at North Melbourne.

"I'm very happy. Being a one club player is one of my goals I set out to achieve and let's face it, I wasn't going to go anywhere else," Harvey said.

"Just to walk into the coaches office and find out if he still needs me and wants me to play was probably the nod I needed and as soon as that happened I was very, very keen to go again."

Brent Harvey says he would love to play again next year and has informed North Melbourne coach Brad Scott of his intentions to do so.

"I've kept my pace and I love the game so I'll probably have to get pushed out the door because I'll be knocking on Brad's door every year saying, 'C'mon, let me go again'," Harvey said.

"But I'm a realist as well. I know that the end is not too far away. But when you love being around the footy club you just want to stay there."

Brent Harvey has been well held in recent weeks but North Melbourne coach Brad Scott doesn't believe he is a spent force.

"Probably the reason you're asking the question [about Harvey's form] and we're talking about it is he's been so good at the start of the year and he's set a really high standard for himself as he has throughout his whole career," Scott said.

"His numbers haven't been what they are usually are over the last couple of weeks. [But] one of the hallmarks of his career has been being able to bounce back really quickly from a poor performance. He hasn't lost that ability."

Veteran Brent Harvey says he will play in important in mentoring the younger players at the Kangaroos.

"I'm there to play my role in the team and that is to help fast-track some of our young guys and mentor our new leadership group," Harvey said.

"I'm hoping my form is still there. I believe I had a fairly good year last year and I back myself 100 per cent to do it again this year."

Midfielder Andrew Swallow is named North Melbourne's new captain, replacing Brent Harvey.

"I've had a few opportunities in my junior career but I think as I go along (my leadership) will evolve," Swallow said.

"I'm probably not someone who will be in people's faces and yelling and screaming. I like to lead by the way I play, similar to the way that 'Boomer' (Harvey) prepares and the way he goes about his footy.

"(I'll also be) just getting alongside the guys and getting to know them really well and making sure that they're travelling well."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Brent Harvey is no certainty to retain the captaincy in 2012.

"As 'Boomer' has said publicly a number of times, the fortunate position that we're in is that we've got a number of guys who have really elevated themselves in a leadership type role," Scott said.

"So we'll work through that process and I anticipate that we'll make an announcement some time in January."

Brent Harvey says he is prepared to retire at the end of next season if it's in the best interests of the club.

"Straight after the season next year I'll sit down again with (coach) Brad (Scott)," Harvey said.

"If things are going well ... and Brad wants me around, then I'll stick around for another year. But if he says, 'It's time to retire' or I think it's time to retire, well then that's going to be an easy decision."

North Melbourne has honoured Brent Harvey's club-record equalling 311th match with a 47-point victory against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

North skipper Brent Harvey's name-and shame comments after a heavy loss to Collingwood has drawn criticism from his coach and club president.

Harvey had called out teammates Sam Wright and Lachie Hansen expressing his impatience at their slow rate of reaching the next level.

"It will never happen again. He's apologised to the players concerned," Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said.

"It was born out of frustration and embarrassment. He made a mistake and it was dealt with very quickly. We certainly won't tolerate people putting the blame on individuals."

Brent Harvey says he is keen to play on to watch North Melbourne's young list develop.

"You look around, we've got the new facility, a fantastic new coach, great coaching staff, and a bunch of youngsters who want to learn," Harvey said.

"In the next couple of years we can achieve something pretty special. I'm definitely playing next year. I just got the contract so that's great. After that ... hopefully Brad [Scott] still thinks I'm going okay and we'll take it from there."

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey won't countenance talk of a rebuilding phase, saying the club has what it takes to finish top eight in 2010.

"I don't think there's time for being in a development phase, no matter how young or how old your group is. I've got pretty high expectations for this group," Harvey said.

"I'd be thinking finals football for sure. You're not going to sit back and say, 'We're not going to make the eight this year'. We've got to put expectations on us to think we will."

North Melbourne skipper Brent Harvey says newly appointed senior coach Brad Scott's aggressive playing style would rub off nicely at the Roos.

"That is probably good and something we need at the footy club - a really hard edge - and if he brings that to our group I reckon it's going to be great," Harvey said.

"He's pretty young, we've got a young group obviously and I think it's going to be a good relationship."

North Melbourne skipper Brent Harvey says recently retired teammate Adam Simpson will make an outstanding coach.

"At what level he gets to, whether he wants to be an AFL coach one day or just an assistant or in a development role, he will be a sensational coach," Harvey said.

"His people skills are amazing, the young guys love him ... he's a great bloke and I know whether it's next year, the year after, whenever he goes into coaching, he's going to do a very, very good job."

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey says it will be hard to adjust to footy without recently retired teammate Adam Simpson.

"We've both been pretty durable throughout our careers ... we've played a lot of footy together and we understand the way each other play," Harvey said.

"I bounce a lot of things off Simmo and I feel pretty privileged to be able to say I've played 200 and something games with him.

"He's been an icon of our footy club and a great leader and, more importantly, a really good friend."

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey gives a glowing assessment of new coach Darren Crocker's inclusive style.

"He has got a few new ideas. The leaders went to him at each break and gave him a bit of input as well, so I thought that was a real positive," Harvey said.

"After the game he was really upbeat and positive and he just backed our boys; he said we should be pretty proud of ourselves with the way we went about it."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey says reborn defender Chris Tarrant is in All-Australian form.

"If you look at who he plays on you would say yes," Harvey said.

"He plays on the key forward or the major forward from the opposition every time.

"If that's the criteria, and I'm not sure what the criteria is ... he's been exceptional."

Close-checking Carlton youngster Aaron Joseph has made every post a winner since coming to the Blues from the Apple Isle.

Joseph's performance in amassing 19 touches opposed to St Kilda livewire Stephen Milne two weeks ago has earned him a nomination as the NAB AFL Rising Star.

"I played on Brent Harvey in the NAB Cup. He's probably been the hardest player to play on. One of my strengths is to get under a player's skin, and he pretty much bashed me up on the day. He showed me a few moves I can use on future opponents," Joseph said.

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey is poised to make his long-awaited return against Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Sunday.

"It's fantastic news,'' North Melbourne caretaker coach Darren Crocker said

"He went off to the surgeon and got the all-clear from the surgeon, it's just a matter of him getting through this week's training, which I've got no doubt he will do, with the preparation and training he's done.

"He's ticked all the boxes and he's super keen to get back and lead the side.''

Darren Crocker's debut as North Melbourne coach could be boosted with captain Brent Harvey a chance to play for the first time since dislocating his elbow in round five.

The Kangaroos meet the Western Bulldogs at the MCG this Sunday in their first game since Dean Laidley resigned as coach. Crocker has since taken the reins in a caretaker role.

"He got the all-clear from the specialist ... so he's just got to get through tomorrow's training session," North Melbourne football manager Donald McDonald said.

Kangaroos skipper Brent Harvey feels some guilt about the Dean Laidley's departure as coach of North Melbourne after spending most of the season on the sidelines with injury.

"Unfortunately I only played four games as captain under Dean and that was probably my biggest disappointment," Harvey said.

"I spoke to him last night and I was saying it's probably my worst year in footy. Purely because I got appointed captain, I've been injured and the coach resigned halfway through the season.

"I just can't stop feeling a little bit responsible.

"Even though I couldn't do a great deal, you sit in the stands frustrated because you want to do things and you just can't do anything.

"It's been a very, very frustrating year but the one thing I love doing is playing footy and I'm hoping I'm back sooner rather than later."

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey only needs final clearance from the club doctor to return from a dislocated elbow.

"Boomer would have played last week if it was left up to him," Chief of football Donald McDonald said.

"We've just got to make sure it's structurally sound, so that will be the focus now."

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey has passed a fitness test and is right to play next week.

"It was full training today with the aim for him to test the stability of his elbow through tackling and landing in game-like conditions. Thankfully he reported to me that he was not sore at all after the hit-out," club doctor Con Mitropoulos said.

"Everyone is very relieved especially Brent. He's shown a great deal of commitment throughout his rehabilitation and has done everything required to get back onto the field. If there was a game this week, he would be a certainty."

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey says standing in front of his teammates to thank outgoing coach Dean Laidley for his contribution to the club was one of the hardest things he has ever had to do.

"I think he finished with, 'Go Roos' and that's when the boys would have thought, 'This is it. That's the last time you're going to hear that from the coach'," he said. "It's very sad."

"We've had a lot of injuries to a lot of key players, so that's been really tough.

"He's probably felt it's his time and I think he said he couldn't take this group any further."

The Kangaroos will not put captain Brent Harvey on the long-term injury list in case he is ready early.

"The way he's training and the way he's running, there could be the possibility he might come back earlier," chief of football Donald McDonald said.

"We couldn't contemplate putting a rookie up and waiting for him to finish his eight weeks."

North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey is frustrated, impatient and, above all, involved as he waits for his arm to heal.

"A couple of weeks ago I noticed on the scoreboard: 100 consecutive games," he said.

"To miss 10 or 12 weeks of footy, or whatever it's going to be, is very disappointing but I've got to think about what I want to do off the field now and how I'm going to help the footy club."

Brent Harvey will undergo elbow surgery this week after severely damaging ligaments when tackled by Richmond's Daniel Jackson.

The injury will keep out of action for up to three months.

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey says his team must handle pressure better if they are to improve after losses to the Bulldogs and Hawthorn.

"When you go out there and you put yourself under pressure - obviously Hawthorn were pretty good on the weekend and their pressure was good - that certainly plays a part," Harvey said.

"When you lose by [nine] goals the effort's not there. The first half was pretty good but after half time we let ourselves down."

Senior players Adam Simpson and Brent Harvey have told of their regret over an inappropriate video produced by North Melbourne players.

Brent Harvey says close tags and not the captaincy have contributed to his slow start to the season.

North Melbourne will strengthen its support of tagged captain Brent Harvey, starting with this week's clash with Hawthorn.

Liam Picken was given the job of minding Brent Harvey in his first AFL game and carried off the job with style.

North Melbourne's NAB Cup loss to Carlton NAB Cup forced them "back to the drawing board", says captain Brent Harvey.

North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey says it's important his side makes the most of having its first 11 games in Victoria.

Brent Harvey has been named North Melbourne captain, replacing Adam Simpson who stepped down at the end of last season.

THE Kangaroos add Brent Harvey to the veteran list for the 2008 season.

Football manager Donald McDonald praised Harvey's contribution to the club.

"Brent has been a fantastic player for a long time and his form in 2007 was better than ever," said football manager Donald McDonald. "We look forward to that continuing in the coming years."