#29 Brent Harvey
Games: 22
Goals: 29
Summary:
Gearing up for his 20th season at the elite level, one could excuse Brent Harvey for taking the foot off the throttle at the tender age of 35. However, the little champion had other ideas. After a modest display against Essendon in Round 1, Boomer exploded into top form, blitzing the Western Bulldogs, particularly in the second half, to finish with 25 possessions, eight marks and three goals. A week later, he was again in scintillating touch, amassing 23 disposals, taking four marks and booting three majors, including the sealing goal from outside 50 in the final minutes. Opposition teams quickly noticed that Harvey wasn't taking any backward steps, and he soon became the number one target from opposition taggers.
The spotlight was on Boomer in Round 6 against Fremantle when he came face-to-face with Ryan Crowley. After their much-documented tussle last season, Crowley was widely tipped to get under Harvey's skin yet again. However, in a completely dominant display, Boomer ran Crowley ragged, collecting 29 touches, taking three marks and laying five tackles to lead his team to an unlikely victory. Following the bye, Harvey destroyed the Brisbane Lions with a season-high 39 possessions, seven marks and two goals.
Between Rounds 11 and 14, Harvey averaged 27.8 touches while kicking seven goals, continuing his terrific form. However, a low-point came in Round 15 against the Lions, the team he feasted on just weeks earlier. At the conclusion of a disappointing loss, Harvey crossed paths with Tom Rockliff and the two exchanged heated words, which was the cause of much discussion. In true Boomer style, he bounced back big time, delivering 30 disposals against the reigning and eventual premiers Hawthorn in Round 16. A week later, Harvey kicked two majors from 27 disposals and eight marks against St Kilda, with his name floated as a candidate for the All-Australian team and even a Brownlow Medal.
The latter was quashed a few weeks later, when Harvey was suspended for three games for being involved in a scuffle with Liam Picken against the Bulldogs. It forced him to miss the important Elimination Final clash, which North were luckily able to win. With a significant rest under his belt, Harvey was primed to play a big part in North Melbourne's Semi Final over Geelong, and that he did. With 25 touches, two marks, three tackles and a goal, he was among the best, but again found himself in hot water. Harvey captured bumping into Joel Selwood, causing the Cats' skipper to draw blood and leave the field. Harvey was again cited by the match review panel, and ruled out of the Preliminary Final. However, North Melbourne appealed, and with a little help from Selwood at the Tribunal, Harvey was cleared to play.
He was subdued against Sydney, collecting just 19 touches and kicking a goal. With a tumultuous season behind him, Harvey again looms as a key component of North Melbourne's premiership hopes in 2015. He will turn 37 during the first half of next season, and is slated to play his 400th game in Round 17 against Brisbane at the Gabba. Providing Dustin Fletcher reaches the same milestone a couple of months earlier, Harvey will become just the fourth player in history to do so. It will immortalise him as one of the game's absolute legends, and there is still a huge chance he can finish his illustrious career as a two-time premiership player.
It was hard to guess Brent Harvey was in his 20th AFL season in 2014, such was his level of performance.
http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2014-11-01/player-review-brent-harvey
It’s been 5,493 days since Brent Harvey ran around in North Melbourne’s fourth premiership, and there arguably hasn’t been a more exciting time at the club since.
http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2014-10-09/dare-to-dream
North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey hopes he will be greeted by high-fives instead of the usual boos when he runs out onto Patersons Stadium next month.
http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2014-10-08/boomer-hoping-for-no-boos-nmfc