Brent Harvey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brent Harvey |
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Harvey at the 2017 AFL Grand Final parade
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Brent Harvey | ||
| Nickname(s) | Boomer | ||
| Date of birth | 14 May 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Preston, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Original team | Preston RSL (Vic)/Northern Knights | ||
| Draft | 47th overall, 1995 North Melbourne |
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| Position(s) | Forward, Midfielder | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Brent Harvey (born 14 May 1978), often called "Boomer", is a famous former Australian rules football player. He played for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Boomer holds the amazing record for playing the most games in VFL/AFL history. He played a total of 432 games, breaking the old record in 2016.
Contents
Boomer's Amazing AFL Career
Brent Harvey was picked by the North Melbourne Football Club in the 1995 AFL Draft. He quickly became a key player. In 1999, he helped his team win the AFL premiership, which is like winning the championship! That same year, he won the E. J. Whitten Medal for being the best player in a special game between states.
Early Highlights and Awards
In 2003, Boomer won the Syd Barker Medal, which is given to North Melbourne's best player. He also won the Jim Stynes Medal in the International Rules series. This is where Australian players play against Irish players in a mix of both sports. He even got to be the captain of the Australian team in 2008.
One of his most memorable games in 2003 was his 150th match. He kicked three goals, helping the Kangaroos win by a huge 124 points! Boomer was also the only North Melbourne player to play every game at Manuka Oval during the team's nine years there.
Brownlow Medal and Record-Breaking Moments
Boomer was a top player in the Brownlow Medal count, which is for the league's best and fairest player. He finished second in 2007 and eighth in 2008. These were great achievements, showing how skilled he was.
In 2010, after a tough game, Boomer bounced back with an incredible performance. He had a career-best 44 disposals (getting the ball 44 times!). He also made 11 marks and helped set up six goals. He even tried for a "goal of the year" after running with the ball and bouncing it seven times! Boomer holds the record for the most career bounces in AFL history, with 1,055. He is the only player to bounce the ball over a thousand times in games.
In 2011, Boomer played his 312th game, breaking the club record for most games played for North Melbourne. This showed his incredible dedication and long career.
Family Connections in Football
Football runs in Brent Harvey's family. His grandfather, Bill Harvey, played two games for North Melbourne in 1948. Brent's brother, Shane Harvey, also played AFL for Essendon and North Melbourne.
Later Years and Retirement
Brent Harvey continued to play at a high level even in his later career. In 2015, he played his 400th game, becoming the first North Melbourne player and only the fourth overall to reach this milestone. He kicked two goals in that game, showing he still had plenty of skill.
Breaking the All-Time Games Record
In 2016, Boomer made history by breaking Michael Tuck's record for the most VFL/AFL matches played. He ended his career with an amazing 432 games. To celebrate this huge achievement, the Kangaroos wore the number 427 on their jerseys in his record-breaking game. The number 50 on the 50-metre arc was even changed to 29, which was Boomer's jersey number.
In August 2016, North Melbourne announced that Boomer's contract would not be renewed for the next season. On October 7, 2016, Brent Harvey officially announced his retirement from AFL football. He was the last player born in the 1970s and the last who had played in the 1990s to retire.
Hall of Fame and Legacy
In 2022, Brent Harvey was inducted into the AFL Hall Of Fame in his very first year of being eligible. This is a huge honour, showing he is one of the greatest players ever. At that time, he was still the all-time leader in AFL/VFL games played, with 432. Only five other players have ever played 400 AFL games: Michael Tuck, Dustin Fletcher, Kevin Bartlett, Shaun Burgoyne, and Scott Pendlebury.
Boomer is one of only seven players in elite Australian rules football (AFL, SANFL, WAFL) to have played 400 career premiership matches. This shows his incredible endurance and skill over many years.
Honours and Achievements
| Brownlow Medal votes | |
| Season | Votes |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 22 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| Total | 191 |
| Key: | |
| Red / Italics = Ineligible | |
- Team Awards
- AFL Premiership (Kangaroos): 1999 (North Melbourne won the championship!)
- McClelland Trophy (North Melbourne): 1998 (This means North Melbourne finished first on the ladder before finals)
- NAB Cup (North Melbourne): 1998 (A pre-season competition win)
- AFL Reserves Premiership (North Melbourne): 1996 (Won a championship with the reserves team)
- Individual Awards
- E. J. Whitten Medal: 1999 (Best player in a State of Origin game)
- Syd Barker Medal: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 (North Melbourne's best and fairest award, won 5 times!)
- All-Australian: 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008 (Chosen as one of the best players in the whole league)
- Australian Representative Honours in International Rules Football: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008 (Played for Australia against Ireland, and was Captain in 2008)
- Jim Stynes Medal: 2003 (Best player in the International Rules series)
- Lou Richards Medal: 2007, 2008
- Herald Sun Player of the Year: 2008
- Archer–Hird Medal: 2009, 2011
- North Melbourne F.C. Team of the Century (Named in the best team from the club's history)
- AFL Hall Of Fame (2022 Class) (Recognized as one of the greatest players of all time)
- Most senior AFL games: 432 (Holds the record for playing the most games!)
Images for kids
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Harvey at the 2017 AFL Grand Final parade
