Boomer eyes 21st AFL season

North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey has given the strongest indication yet he wants to play on next year.

Barring injury or suspension, Harvey will play his 400th AFL game in round 17 when the Kangaroos face Brisbane at the Gabba.

A 21st season would leave the 37-year-old well placed to break Michael Tuck’s VFL/AFL games record of 426.

Harvey suggested it was too early to make a definitive statement, but was buoyed by how he’d fared so far in 2015.

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

“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.”

Harvey noted Tuck’s record would not factor in his plans for next year.

“I’m playing for one reason and that’s to win a premiership,” he said.

The club is yet to start contract negations.

“I’d like to think so (the club would want him to play on), but I’ve got no idea,” Harvey said.

“I haven’t sat down and spoken with them at all.

“We’re still a couple of weeks away from sitting down with the coaches and going through that process, like I have the last three or four years.”

Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher recently played his 400th match, a milestone only Tuck and Kevin Bartlett had previously achieved in the VFL/AFL.

Harvey admitted he watched that Dreamtime at the G match, which the Bombers lost by 13 points, with a lot of interest.

“I did sit down on the couch and take it in. I spoke to him (Fletcher) afterwards and he said it drew a lot of energy out of him,” he said.

“So I’ve just got to make sure that doesn’t happen to us.

“Just making sure we get the win is the most important thing.”

Teammate Nick Dal Santo, sitting alongside Harvey on Sunday, had a simple explanation for why his teammate should play on.

“He’s our best player in the side,” Dal Santo said.

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