Helpless and guilt-ridden in week one of the AFL finals, North Melbourne’s Brent Harvey is out to repay his club on Friday night.
Harvey served the final leg of his three-match suspension last Saturday night, when the Kangaroos came from 33 points down to post a memorable win over Essendon.
It was among the more stressful evenings in Harvey’s 19 seasons at Arden St.
“I was pretty quiet in the (coach’s) box … you feel so helpless,” Harvey said on Monday.
“There’s guilt anyway (when you miss a game due to suspension). Regardless of the situation with the scoreboard, you know your body is able.
“I want to repay the boys, the club and all our supporters.”
Harvey was cognisant of the fact his delight will come at the expense of a teammate’s disappointment.
“As a leader of the football club, regardless of whether it’s me (or someone else) coming into the team – I’ll definitely have a chat with them (whoever is dropped),” he said.
Three weeks ago, it would have been hard to convince Harvey his punishment for an unsightly clash with Liam Picken was a good thing.
But with North winning their elimination final and the 36-year-old being refreshed mentally and physically – that’s how it has eventuated.
“My body feels good. I’ve had three weeks off. I’ve done a little bit of extra running, but that’s about it,” Harvey said.
“They (some of the tips picked up in the coach’s box) will certainly be in the back of my mind.”
Harvey will rise to equal fourth on the all-time VFL/AFL games list when he tackles the Cats in game No.383.
No.384 is not expected to come until 2015, the Cats starting as favourites to progress to an away preliminary final against Sydney.
No top-four side has exited the finals in straight sets since 2007, when Collingwood edged West Coast in extra-time.
Harvey insisted his side can buck the trend.
“The fact we’ve made the finals, won our first final and beaten a lot of good teams this season (are causes for confidence),” he said.
“We’re capable of beating good teams and Geelong are certainly that.”
The teams met twice this year, but Daniel Wells missed both of those losses.
“His polished ball use is something we’ve lacked a little bit this year,” Harvey said.
MOST VFL/AFL GAMES
*Michael Tuck (Hawthorn, 426 games)
*Kevin Bartlett (Richmond, 403 games)
*Dustin Fletcher (Essendon, 393 games)
*Robert Harvey (St Kilda, 383 games)
*Brent Harvey (North Melbourne, 382 games)
*Simon Madden (Essendon, 378 games)
*Craig Bradley (Carlton, 375 games)
*Bernie Quinlan (Footscray/Fitzroy, 366 games)
*Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs, 364 games)
*John Blakey (Fitzroy/North Melbourne, 359 games
