North Melbourne has opted not to extend the contracts of four veterans, including games record-holder Brent Harvey.

Harvey, along with 300-game players Drew Petrie and Nick Dal Santo, and defender Michael Firrito have all been told they will not be with the Kangaroos in 2017.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says it was a heartbreaking decision to make.

“The decision has been made in the best interests of the football club at heart,” he said.

“If 2017 was going to be the last year on earth we know those four boys would make a contribution to us next year, but the future is longer than that and we needed to make this decision in the best interests of North Melbourne’s future.”
Brad Scott

Scott defended the timing of the announcement, ahead of Saturday night’s clash with the GWS Giants which could be the last chance for Kangaroos fans to farewell the four players at home.

North Melbourne topped the AFL ladder after 12 rounds, but will play off in an elimination final after dropping to eighth with one round left in the home-and-away season.

The worst-case scenario for North would be to drop to ninth, and best-case would be to progress to an away elimination final in either Adelaide, Sydney or Perth.

Harvey passed Hawthorn great Michael Tuck in round 19 to become the AFL’s all-time games record-holder and had expressed a strong desire to play on.

The 38-year-old’s form has not waned in his 21st season, but Petrie and Dal Santo have endured inconsistent campaigns, with Petrie in particular, considered lucky not to be dropped.