North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey will retire if the Kangaroos don’t offer him another contract

NORTH Melbourne champion Brent Harvey will retire if the Kangaroos don’t offer the game’s record-holder another contract for next season.

Brent Harvey. Picture: George Salpigtidis

NORTH Melbourne champion Brent Harvey will retire if the Kangaroos don’t offer the game’s record-holder another contract for next season.

There has been speculation the evergreen goal kicker could be tempted to explore his trade options after another strong performance in his record-breaking 21st season.

Hawthorn has previously held interest in the four-time All-Australian.

But Harvey’s manager, Shane Casley, said there was no chance Harvey would switch clubs.

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Casley said the five-time best and fairest-winner would retire a one-club player if his contract at Arden St were not renewed for 2017.

“No. He would not (seek a trade),” Casley told the Herald Sun.

Harvey wants to play again next season, but Casley said the club had put off talks on a new deal until season’s end as it prepares to make a series of difficult decsions on its out-of-contract veterans.

Casley believed Harvey, 38, deserved an extension based on his form and fitness this season.

Brent Harvey wants to be a one club player. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Harvey is rated the competition’s 26th best player, according to the official AFL player rankings formulated by Champion Data.

He has averaged 22 possessions and 1.2 goals a game.

“All the stats say he has had a pretty solid year,” Casley said. “But the club’s performance has been pretty poor over the past seven or eight weeks.

“I think they will get to the end of this season and review the whole list.

“He is one of a number of players they are reviewing.

“He is certainly keen to go on.”

North Melbourne will enter a cricial list management phase at season’s end, with nine 30-year-olds helping make up the competition’s second-oldest squad.

Leading player manager Scott Lucas said North’s list was “cooked”.

The Roos have won only three of their past 11 games and Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite, Nick Dal Santo, Daniel Wells and Michael Firrito are all out of contract this year.

North Melbourne great Wayne Schwass believed the Roos’ premiership opportunity had expired in the short-term and said coach Brad Scott should filter more youth into the team next season.

“The window is closed for the Kangaroos contesting another premiership in the next couple of years,” Schwass said on Triple M.

Brent Harvey celebrates after playing his 427th game. Picture: Getty Images.

“It’s not so much about whether or not these players want to go on, for me, it should be more about what the club thinks is in the best interests of this organisation to get themselves into a position again, with some regeneration, some new players coming in.

“Boomer’s had a great career, he has played the most games ever. But is another season of football going to define Boomer Harvey’s career? No.

“Is a season of football for another kid coming through going to be important? Absolutely.”

Casley said Petrie was in “a similar boat” as Harvey and would want to play on but would await the club’s decision.

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The Roos need to win at least one of their next two games — against Sydney in Hobart and Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium — to guarantee a finals berth.

Melbourne could yet leapfrog the Kangas if Paul Roos’ men win both of their last two games against Carlton (MCG) and Geelong (SS).

Originally published as North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey will retire if the Kangaroos don’t offer him another contract