North Melbourne star Brent Harvey is the 20th best performed player in the AFL

BRENT Harvey is the 20th best performed player in the league over the past 40 games, putting him ahead of superstars Lance Franklin and Dustin Martin

MILESTONE man Brent Harvey is the 20th best performed player in the league over the past 40 games, putting him ahead of superstars Lance Franklin and Dustin Martin, according to the AFL’s official player ratings.

Harvey, 38, on Saturday night broke Michael Tuck’s all-time games record, but awaits a contract extension for next season.

He is on track for a top-five finish in North’s best and fairest and, remarkably, will be in the mix for an fifth All-Australian guernsey in his 21st season.

North Melbourne's Brent Harvey on the run. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Champion Data analysis shows Harvey remains one of the game’s most impacting players.

Using a complex formula to track the benefit of each possession, Harvey is ranked the 20th best player in the league over the past two seasons, marginally behind Swan Luke Parker (18) and Hawthorn star Sam Mitchell (19).

Tigers’ star Martin, who has become second favourite for the Brownlow Medal with TAB, is ranked lower down, at No. 26.

Champion Data ranks each player using “the most sophisticated algorithm ever applied” to the AFL. It is calculated on the past 40 games.

Harvey’s ball use inside 50m is among the most accurate and damaging in the league.

“We are assessing every single action of every player, determining the impact of that action, and providing points — either positive or negative — toward that player’s rating compared to his peers,” Champion Data explains.

And while the Kangaroos have repeatedly spoken about the need to ease the reliance on Harvey, he is still the second highest ranked player at North, behind only ruckman Todd Goldstein (5).

Next best at the Roos are Ben Cunnington (51), Shaun Higgins (86), Nick Dal Santo (105) and Andrew Swallow (106) and Jack Ziebell (114).