Nothing gave Sam Wright a bigger thrill on Saturday night than the beaming grin on team-mate Brent Harvey’s face in the North Melbourne rooms post-match.

Their comeback 12-point win over Essendon in a pulsating AFL elimination final means Harvey plays again this season.

He is an automatic inclusion for Friday night’s semi-final against Geelong at the MCG.

This weekend marked the end of Harvey’s three-game suspension and Wright said North were determined to keep their season alive for the 382-game veteran.

“To give Boomer another chance – we were really playing for him,” Wright told AAP.

“It’s massive, he’s been the backbone of our club for a long time.

“To see his face as we were coming in gave me the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

Harvey, 36, is in his 19th AFL season and is third on the all-time games list.

Friday night will also be his 19th final.

“He was absolutely the flattest man I’ve seen when the penalty was initially handed down,” Harvey’s teammate Drew Petrie told the Seven Network’s AFL Game Day.

“He got a little bit better as the weeks wore on.

“Last night I think he sent the whole team a message at about 11.30pm after the game saying, I can’t thank you boys enough.”

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott said Harvey’s overriding emotion at the final siren on Saturday night was relief.

“I think he’s relieved and he gets the opportunity now to repay his teammates and repay his club,” Scott said after the game.

“There aren’t too many players in my experience who come back better after a spell than Boomer.

“He had some pretty important moments in the box again tonight, so we potentially get one back next week on field and lose one off field.”