Shane Harvey backflips on retirement, signs with Kinglake for 2024

The Northern league’s all-time leading-goalkicking Shane Harvey will put his retirement on the backburner and suit up for Kinglake in 2024.

Shane Harvey comes out of retirement at Kinglake.

The Northern league’s greatest goalkicker is back.

Shane Harvey has put his retirement on the backburner after signing with NFNL Division 3 contender Kinglake for 2024.

The legendary forward announced his retirement mid-season before delivering one last extraordinary display for North Heidelberg.

Harvey kicked 1053 goals in 235 games for the Bulldogs, winning two premierships, a Rosbrook Medal, seven league goalkicking awards, five club best-and-fairests, two Coaches’ MVPs, a grand final medal and 11 Team of Year honours.

He made a brief appearance for Outer East club Olinda Ferny Creek later in the season, kicking 21 goals in six games – including two bags of seven.

He’ll join 2014 North Heidelberg premiership teammates, new Kinglake coach David Florance and Leigh Gilbert, at Memorial Oval.

Harvey joins a stunning influx of talent into the competition.

The likes of Brent Macaffer (Old Eltham Collegians), Sam Gilmore (Old Paradians), Brent Marshall (Mernda) and Neville Jetta (Fitzroy Stars) will play in the NFNL’s third tier.

Florance said securing the likes of Harvey would create excitement around the club and potentially pull in more recruits.

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“The list is very exciting, it’s a good mixture of older, more experienced players who have played a high standard of football and some younger kids coming through,” he said.

“It’s a good mix of experience and talent as well as some younger players coming through that will bolster the club moving forward.

“Hopefully that will create some excitement and buzz around the club which will get some others that were umming and ahhing to bite the bullet and drag a few others through the door.

“Last year was pretty tight at the top so it’s going to be an exciting year with some big names coming into the competition.”