Brent Harvey’s is set to notch up another magnificent achievement in his glittering football career, when he steps out for his 350th AFL game on Sunday.
Harvey – the NFL’s representative coaching co-ordinator – will become just the 13th player in league history to reach the 350-game milestone when North Melbourne takes on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
He also becomes the first player in North Melbourne’s history to play 350 games. Teammate John Blakey played 359 games, although 135 of those were played with Fitzroy.
Speaking to NFL.org.au, Harvey expressed his pride at reaching the landmark game.
“When you first start out you want to play one game and to get another 349 under your belt is something I’m pretty proud of and something I’ll be a lot more proud of when my career is over and I look back at it,” Harvey said.
Harvey began his football career at Preston RSL in the then-named Diamond Valley Football League and has gone on to become one of the most accomplished players in North Melbourne’s long and proud existence.
A member of the club’s 1999 premiership side, Harvey has claimed the Kangaroos’ best and fairest a record five-times and was runner-up to Jimmy Bartel for the 2007 Brownlow Medal.
Other accolades include the 1999 E.J. Whitten Medal as best afield for Victoria and captaining Australia in the 2008 International Rules series against Ireland.
Reflecting back on where his football journey first began, Harvey said his passion to become an AFL player evolved midway through his junior career.
“Probably when I was 14 was the age when I really thought that playing AFL was what I wanted to do,” he said.
“You first start and you play your first game with your mates and you enjoy it.
Then you play a few more and you’re half decent at it and start making the combined team, which back then was the Diamond Valley rep team.
“Then you play at the Northern Knights and start realising that you’re probably good enough to become an AFL player.
“Once you get drafted and play that one game your dreams sort of come true.”
Despite his long list of accolades, Harvey was adamant that one achievement stood out amongst the rest.
“I think the premiership is the one,” he said.
“It’s what we play for and if you ask me right now what I want out of the rest of my career it would be another premiership.”
The only member of the 1999 premiership team still playing in the AFL, Harvey was 21 and in just his third season of senior football when he played in North Melbourne’s Grand Final win over Carlton.
He looks back at the time and admits that naivety meant he didn’t savour the moment as much as he would now have liked.
“When I played in the premiership and having been part of such a successful team I thought I probably would have had three or four up my sleeve, being so naive about it all,” he said.
“Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to play in another one which has been disappointing.
“Certainly I’d like to have enjoyed it and embrace it a little bit more back then.”
Ever the professional, Harvey said banking the four points this Sunday was more currently important to him than reaching his 350th, with a win over St Kilda crucial to keeping North Melbourne’s finals hopes alive.
“This week is important for us to get the win and overshadows playing 350 games,” he said.
“I’m not sure how many other clubs have played a mini-final in Round 10 but if we lost this one we’re going to struggle, but if we win we believe we can put our season back on track.
“There’s no beating around the bush or hiding from it, we just have to win.”
The Northern Football League congratulates Brent or reaching the milestone and wish him the best of luck against the Saints on Sunday.
