Brent Harvey deserved better treatment by North Melbourne, writes David King

THERE is no logical reason for North Melbourne to delist Brent Harvey, but how the club made the announcement was downright disrespectful, writes David King.

Brent Harvey at training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

BRENT Harvey is 38 years old. That’s his only flaw.

On the field he’s still a genius, rated the AFL’s 25th best performed player in 2016.

Only Taylor Walker has a better inside-50 kick than Boomer this season as he maintains his status as North Melbourne’s most damaging player.

Off the field Boomer is as dedicated as the competition’s very best and financially he’s a steal. He’s not in North Melbourne’s top 10 paid players — a bargain.

Why are they rushing him out the door? There must be a valid reason.

Is this personal between Harvey and coach Brad Scott? I don’t get it and neither do all of the North Melbourne fans.

There is no logical reason. The youth needing opportunity is being touted. Please.

Brent Harvey is among the best performed players in 2016. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Which skilful, outside ball user are Harvey and Nick Dal Santo keeping from senior football?

Are those games different from Robin Nahas and Farren Ray’s 16 games this year?

Brad Scott destroyed the 2016 finals campaign, denigrated a North Melbourne champion and has clearly conceded this club is destined for a regeneration, if not a complete rebuild, at season’s end.

If the Kangaroos persist with injury-prone Jarrad Waite, who will be 34 in February, after delisting Harvey, then that’ll do me.

Boomer got three paragraphs in a media release stating he wasn’t offered a new contract. That’s an exit for a rookie list player ... not the AFL games record holder.

Compare how Collingwood crafted the retirement extravaganza for Dane Swan on Tuesday.

It was the way a great should be respected and recognised. Pure class.

Eddie Maguire, Nathan Buckley and Mick Malthouse all put their indifferences aside for a club great. It was brilliant.

I really wish Eddie was at North Melbourne.

Boomer got three paragraphs in a media release stating he wasn’t offered a new contract.

That’s an exit for a rookie list player who never played an AFL game, not the AFL games record holder.

Harvey puts on a brave face at training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Boomer means more to North Melbourne than Dane Swan does to Collingwood because the Magpies have a deeper, more decorated history.

Why Wednesday morning prior to Round 23?

North Melbourne had time to construct and prepare significantly more respectful departures than this farcical exiting that was slapped together on the run.

Apparently the fans will now come in their droves to Etihad Stadium on Saturday night to say farewell.

Really? How many more will come? Two thousand? Complete nonsense.

North will look at free agency, Scott said. Maybe try to find a player who can average 20-plus disposals, kick 30 goals a season and possess high-level skills, particularly kicking the ball inside the 50m arc.

Look no further. That’s him walking out the door. You just sacked him.

Drew Petrie and Michael Firritto have shown signs of this being time. Of course they would.

They’ve given every ounce of effort for more than a decade to North Melbourne. Kangaroos fans always knew what Drewy and Spud would deliver game in, game out. Well done, lads.

But North Melbourne had time to construct and prepare significantly more respectful departures than this farcical exiting that was slapped together on the run.

I’m disappointed in North Melbourne today.

David King is a two-time Kangaroos premiership player