Brent Harvey Reflects on Games Record as Scott Pendlebury Nears Milestone

It has been 3,584 days — or 512 weeks — since a 38-year-old Brent Harvey became the VFL/AFL games record holder, overtaking Hawthorn Legend Michael Tuck.

And for 10 years it's been a title he's held with pride.

"When they introduce me, it's 'Brent Harvey, former North Melbourne player [and] AFL/VFL games record holder'.

"It's nice to have, I won't lie," Harvey admits.

But today, at the same age Harvey was in 2016, Scott Pendlebury becomes the sole occupant of the record.

When reflecting on the six men who are members of the 400-game club, Harvey — affectionately known as 'Boomer' — notes one thing in common.

All but Shaun Burgoyne are one-club players.

'Boomer' says being a one-club player is something he holds with great pride, but knows the AFL's landscape is shifting.

"[In the] NRL, you know how they announce mid-season, 'I'm leaving' — we will get to that stage at some point," he says.

"We sort of already know the free agents that don't sign, [then later] put their hand up and they're out the door.

With the introduction of the AFL free agency period, one-club players are rare across veterans.

Of those who play over 200 games, only 52 per cent remain at the club they started with.

Choosing retirement over a new club

Harvey's desire to stay at his beloved Kangaroos ultimately led to what he believes was a shocking and premature end to his 432-game career in 2016.

North Melbourne finished that year in 8th position, after being demolished in an elimination final by 62 points at the hands of the Crows.

As a result, and to the surprise of many at the time, the club sacked a quartet of veterans including the hard-running midfielder Harvey, as well as Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo.

Averaging 21.5 disposals and a goal from 23 games played that year, Harvey's axing was indeed a shock.

Even at the age of 38 he still possessed an electric running capacity and an uncanny ability to kick goals.

There were clubs at the time who presented an opportunity to play on.

"They were both Melbourne clubs; one was more toward the bottom of the ladder and maybe wanted some leadership, and another team was probably there about to win."

His best friend Petrie joined West Coast, but for Harvey it was the one-club player tag that ultimately won out.

"I talked to my manager about it after he rang and told me who they were," Harvey says.

"I put my head on the pillow that night and I think I made the call at about 6:30 in the morning when I rang and said, 'not for me'.

"We sort of weighed up both options, it just didn't sit.

"I think being a one-club player, I can still walk into North Melbourne now with my head held high and say this is my club."

'You've got to be driven, selfish'

While his record of 432 games has taken 10 years to break, a milestone Harvey admits he didn't think anyone would be able achieve, there is one player he believes could do it again.

And it would bring the record right back to Arden Street.

"The only one that springs to mind now … Harry Sheezel is not going to play reserves football. He's really durable," he says.

"If Harry can go around not clocking anyone and be a good boy, play a lot of finals football, he might be the one that gets there."

The 21-year-old has missed just one game since getting drafted at pick three in 2022.

But as far as September goes, the Kangaroos have not played a final since that huge loss in 2016.

It takes a special kind of person to last the distance and keep up with the ever-moving game that has become AFL Football, but it doesn't mean it's impossible.

According to Harvey, there are a few non-negotiables that worked for him, and they're traits that Scott Pendlebury has demonstrated across his glittering 21-year career.

"That's the selfish part of it. You've got to be driven, and you've got to be selfish when you do that because it's about you," Harvey says.

"There are sacrifices, but then you wake up the next day and play AFL football.

And family is all-important.

"You can't do it without them and this is something I know Scott will talk about."