ROBERT Harvey admits his failure to capture a premiership flag during his celebrated 21-year career with St Kilda will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Harvey, a dual Brownlow Medallist, capped a brilliant individual career by winning the AFLPA's Madden Medal on Friday at a gala ceremony where retired Hawthorn great Shane Crawford was also honoured.

Crawford concluded his with this year's premiership and though Harvey was delighted for his contemporary, he admitted seeing him hold the cup aloft stirred mixed emotions.

"I'm rapt for Shane and I was at the time [of the grand final] as well, but … it's something that will probably haunt me for the rest of my life," Harvey, who played in St Kilda's grand final loss to Adelaide in 1997, said.

"I'm finished now, so the actual feeling of playing feels [like it was] years ago and it's only been months, but I'll always, always have that feeling of … it's almost an unsuccessful feeling in that part of your footy career.

"I'm hoping that I'll learn from that, even with what I do in the future, but it'll never be complete when I look back on my footy career."

Harvey didn't spend long out of the game with old foe and current Carlton coach Brett Ratten quickly making use of his 383 games' experience, appointing him development coach for the young Blues.

But Harvey's unsure whether his new role will help or hinder the tough transition out of the playing ranks.

"I haven't worked that out yet," he said.

"It's a bit of a confusing time with not playing footy and not training. Even just trying to get my head around a career, its hard enough being at a different club – that's one thing in itself – and just seeing blokes in different colours; you're just not used to that.

"Not being at Linton Street (Moorabbin) is really different, but I think it's just going to sort itself out for me.

"Once the season starts I reckon it will be a lot easier, in a way, to get into it and get into my role. That's why I wanted to keep going; I wanted to know whether footy was going to be long-term for me. I think the first 12 months will be a good test for me."

Harvey forever pledged his heart to the Saints during his acceptance speech, but was quick to assure his new employers they shouldn't expect anything less than his best.

"It's more about my job than anything and working with the young guys rather than being a 'Carlton man' or whatever," he said.

"I want to help the young guys I work with. Obviously I'm fresh out of being 21 years at St Kilda so when I say 'my heart's there', it always will be I suppose in a lot of ways.

"But I'll be fanatical and committed to doing my job at Carlton with the young guys and helping them through.

"I suppose you take the emotion out of it a little bit and just do your job you're employed to do. I've got some messages I'd like to pass on to the young guys and hopefully I can do that."