Round nine 2008 - It was a day to celebrate the achievements of North's brilliant midfielder Brent Harvey. In his 13th season at the club, Harvey lined up for his 250th game - a feat reserved for the game's greatest players.

He was only the eighth player at the club to achieve the milestone, joining elite company alongside players such as Archer, Schimmelbusch, Greig and Stevens.

It promised to be a defining game for both the Bulldogs and Kangaroos with a chance to cement a spot in the top eight.

After the big build up, the game couldn’t have started any worse for North Melbourne. After Will Minson booted the opening goal for the afternoon, Harvey copped a stray boot to the head and was seeing stars. His big moment threatened to be derailed within minutes of the opening bounce.

A goal to Scott Welsh, followed by a double to Akermanis saw the Bulldogs in front by 20 points and the Roos were quickly on the back foot.

It was 21 year-old Matt Campbell who tried his best to help North Melbourne hit back and he intercepted an errant kick-in from Lindsay Gilbee to get the margin back to 12 points.

Amazingly, Harvey came back onto the field nearing the end of the first term. The big hit he’d copped in the first few minutes seemed to have had little effect on the exciting midfielder as he booted one of the goals of the year.

Daniel Wells was having a huge impact in the middle, while Matt Riggio in just his fourth game, set up veteran Nathan Thompson to give his team the lead.

Akermanis’ influence could not be quelled though, the Brownlow Medal winner gave Brad Johnson a chance to level the scores at the first break.

Mitch Hahn set the tone for his teammates early in the second quarter and within the blink of an eye the Bulldogs were in front by 21 points.

In what would ultimately prove to be his final season, Thompson again asserted himself on the game with his second goal, before Drew Petrie in perhaps his best year of football narrowed the margin again.

But everything North Melbourne did, it seemed Brad Johnson and his team had the answer. The captain’s second goal, a brilliant gather and kick from 40 meters helped the Bulldogs to a handy lead and when Robert Murphy kicked his second the gap was out to 23 points at half-time.

The Kangaroos’ experience shone through in the third quarter. Leigh Harding kicked the first, before Wells, Hamish McIntosh and Petrie combined to reduce the margin to 12 points again.

Minson’s presence up forward was causing headaches for coach Dean Laidley, while Adam Cooney was dominant through the midfield.

An injury to Wells made things even more difficult for North Melbourne as Lindsay Gilbee steered the Bulldogs clear by 24 points. But a piece of individual brilliance on an otherwise quiet day for Daniel Harris saw the game take another dramatic turn. Thompson bobbed up for his third and fourth goals and the game was in the balance.

It was Petrie who provided the spark when the Roos needed it most, a towering mark in a huge pack paved the way for Corey Jones to put one through. It was fitting that Harvey would then be the man to put his team in front with 20 minutes to play.

Akermanis hit back with his fourth shortly after, but Ed Lower quickly returned fire with a booming goal from 50m on the run.

The scene was set for an exciting finish and Petrie had every intention of guiding his side to victory with his third for the game. An anxious five minutes saw several missed opportunities for both teams, Johnson’s third goal helping bridge the gap to four points with only two minutes left.

It was Johnson who would decide the fate of the match. A hectic final minute saw the Bulldogs surge the ball forward, the Bulldogs’ champion marking with just a second remaining and had a chance to win the match.

North Melbourne players fell to the ground anticipating the worst but when Johnson missed, those feelings turned to pure joy. The Roos embraced in the forward pocket and the courage of Brent Harvey and his team mates was rewarded with four points.