North Melbourne got the win against St Kilda they craved to celebrate Brent Harvey’s historic AFL milestone and that they needed to boost their top-four campaign, but they may have lost Jarrad Waite in the process.

The important forward buckled in agony after he kicked his second goal early in the third quarter at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night and left the game having aggravated the hip injury that has put the brakes on his impressive season of late.

“I understand he’s been in the side, then out, then in, then out in quick succession. So for our supporters and members, he looks like he’s just jarred his hip again, the same hip,” coach Brad Scott said after the 23-point win.

“Whether it’s exactly the same injury, I’m not sure.

“But it’s a strange one because you saw how he was functioning right at the start of the game and then five minutes later, without incident, he’s pretty sore.

“We’ll just go and get it scanned again. We were really patient with it at the start and we’re just going to have to reassess how we treat him and when he comes back.”

North stayed in eighth spot despite the win but are still right in the hunt for a top-four berth, with Scott confident the Roos are on the right track after a mid-season slump.

The build-up to Harvey’s 427th match which made him the AFL’s leading all-time games record holder, was intense but Scott paid tribute to the veteran midfielder for his handling of the situation.

“He has done an exceptional job of honouring the occasion and honouring the legends that have gone before him,” he said.

“‘I can’t see this record being equalled or broken in my lifetime. The thing that impresses me the most is he’s not limping to the line – he completes every training session and he sets the standard in terms of professionalism at the club.

“He’s broken the all-time games record, arguably, at the peak of his powers, which is something to behold.”