NORTH Melbourne champion Brent Harvey has revealed the fire in the belly remains to extend his career into a 22nd season.
Harvey, 38, was told three weeks ago he would not be required at Arden Street for 2017, a place he has called home "more than half my life."
In a year he broke the VFL/AFL games played record, Harvey expects interest to come from clubs with the opportunity to push through the 450-game barrier.
"100 per cent (the fire remains). My ability, I think my footy still says play on," he told The Footy Show.
"If my footy had gone downhill a little bit, I think I'm surrounded by people who are honest enough to say, I think you need to step away now.
"I think there'll be a little bit (of interest), something for me to consider, even if that's one club, it's still something to consider."
COMMENT: Hoo-roo to four great Kangaroos
With a belief his football ability can see him play on, Harvey said the biggest factor he had to consider was pulling on a rival club's colours.
"That's the one (mindset) that says do you need to go and play somewhere else, you're a North Melbourne person, don't do it, don't do it," he said.
"I'll always bleed blue and white.
"Right now, you know what, I can honestly sit here and say, mate I don't know.
"I've got a meeting with my manager and I think I need to sit down with the family, in particular my wife and a few other close members of my family and really see what they think as well."
Harvey praised coach Brad Scott's honesty despite the shifting timeline from the club for a decision on his future in the second half this season.
"The timing for me was fine. Brad could've said to me, we're not sure and then told me after we lost to Adelaide on the weekend that he knew three weeks ago, you know what, I would've been pretty dirty I reckon."
"A lot of people reckon it was a distraction for me personally and for the football club. I don't think it was, maybe the way it all came out, there was a bit of 'hoo-hah' about it, that was a little bit of a distraction I guess."
Harvey gave insight into the moment Scott told him he was no longer required.
"I went upstairs and Brad was in the gym and he (had) seen me walking up and knew what I was going up for, he followed me up and we sat down," he said.
"Like I have on probably 50 occasions, had a chat with him and (it was) sort of going around in circles for a little bit then he delivered the news."
"I don't think it hit home until I walked downstairs (at the footy club) and Lindsay (Thomas) knew that I was in contact with the football club and finding out.
"Lindsay came over to me and said, 'How'd you go?’ … and I just went 'thumbs down' and he went, 'Really?'
"He came over and gave me a hug and we both cried. It was pretty emotional.
"Brad said that to me. He said, 'You're in our top handful of players. Will you be next year? Yes, you probably will be next year as well'.
"'But looking forward to (2018), 19, 20 — if we do that, we're not blooding our young guys.'"
Harvey admitted the lure to stay in football was strong, with a skills focused part-time coaching role appealing when the curtain closes on his playing career.
