THE CHANCE that Brent Harvey will break Michael Tuck's AFL games record if he plays on next season will play no part in the looming decision on the North Melbourne star's future, coach Brad Scott says.
Harvey will become just the fourth VFL/AFL player to reach 400 games when he runs out against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night at the Gabba.
If he plays every remaining home and away game this season, Harvey will climb to 406 games, placing him second on the AFL games list ahead of retired Richmond great Kevin Bartlett (403 games) and Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher, who has been left stranded on 400 games since round nine by a lingering groin complaint.
Harvey would then need to play 21 games across this year's finals series and next year's premiership season to pass Tuck's 24-year-old record of 426 games.
Harvey has said repeatedly he's keen to play on while his body and form remain sound.
Scott told reporters on Wednesday he would sit down with Harvey later in the year to make "a mutual decision as to what the best thing is for this football club".
The Roos coach stressed that the chance to beat Tuck's record would have "absolutely zero" influence on that decision.
"[The Tuck record] hasn't entered my thinking," Scott said.
"I think it would have entered the thinking of a lot of fans and a lot of football media, but it's not something that the club will look back and think Brent's had a better career if he's played 427 games than if he plays just over 400.
"If he's playing really well, his body holds up and he's playing his role for the team, then there's every chance that he plays on.
"But if he's not able to do that for whatever reason then we'll do the best thing by the club."
Scott said the mooted abolition of the substitute rule from 2016 would be a factor in the decision on Harvey's future, but not a major one.
"It will be a factor in some way because we always thought he could play that role really well, and I think he showed two weeks ago that he can do it really well," the Roos coach said.
"But we wouldn't keep someone going around to be a specialist sub. We think that he would need to be able to hold up his end."
Scott acknowledged that Harvey's milestone game would be 'massive' for the club, but said the five-time best-and-fairest winner had stressed to his teammates this week that their sole focus should be on beating the Lions.
To get the four points, North will have to overcome a shocking record at the Gabba.
The Roos have not won at the Lions' home ground since 2005, having dropped their past six games there and 10 of their past 11.
Scott said North was well aware of its poor record and was determined to improve it this Saturday night.
Scott confirmed vice-captain Drew Petrie would return from a one-match suspension against the Lions, but did not guarantee Lindsay Thomas a recall.
"We think that Taylor Garner, Kayne Turner, Shaun Higgins and Boomer have been playing pretty well forward (and) we thought Robbie Nahas was terrific in the VFL," he said.
"Lindsay generated four shots at goal (in the VFL last weekend) and I thought his pressure was really good, particularly after half-time when he played mostly deep forward early.
"He'll be right in calculations."
Scott also said key defender Lachlan Hansen was a chance to return after missing the past two weeks with hip soreness.
