NORTH Melbourne is retiring the No.29 jumper indefinitely following League games record-holder Brent Harvey's departure from the AFL at the end of last season.

Harvey wore No.29 in all 432 of his games for North, having debuted in round 22, 1996.

Harvey's eldest son Cooper, 12, is a promising footballer and would likely inherit No.29 if eventually selected by the Kangaroos as a father-son recruit. 

The five-time Syd Barker medallist said having his former jumper retired was humbling. 

"I didn't expect the No.29 to be retired, I think it's a fantastic gesture though from the football club," Harvey said. 

"I wore it for 21 seasons, so to have no one run around in it next year will be a little bit strange when I watch the boys play. 

"(I'm) obviously very privileged that the club have chosen to do that."

Harvey returns to Arden Street from next Tuesday as a skills coach and mentor, when he will work closely with the players North selects in Friday night's NAB AFL Draft. 

Harvey passed Michael Tuck's previous games record (426) in round 19, 2016, against St Kilda.

Along with fellow veterans Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo, Harvey was advised by the Kangaroos he would not be offered a contract for 2017 ahead of the club's round 23 game against Greater Western Sydney.

In his final season, Harvey, 38, finished fifth in the Kangaroos' best and fairest count, while he was on a run of 86 consecutive games before his retirement, having last been sidelined at the start of 2013 while he served a six-match suspension. 

Harvey was taken with pick No.47 in the 1995 national draft, with his height (168cm at the time) convincing some teams to overlook him. 

The former Northern Knight made a mockery of those concerns over a stellar career that included the 1999 premiership, four All Australian selections and a three-year stint as North captain (2009-11).