Pike arrived at the Kangaroos in 1997, Harvey’s second season, and was his teammate when the Roos defeated Carlton in the 1999 Grand Final.
“I can remember him as a 17-18 year old, just starting out and he’d pick me up in his old, beat-up Commodore,” Pike told AFL.com.au.
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“In today’s football we use the word champion too much but when you talk about players like Brent Harvey, he’s one of the all-time greats of the game.
“He came to North Melbourne as a real young man and he looks like he hasn’t aged at all. His pace is still where it was when he was younger so I think he still has a fair bit of football left in him.
During his 81 games at Aegis Park, Pike was able to gain a first-hand look at what made Harvey such an important player, even in his early years.
“Around the boys he’s always got a smile and he’s a happy bloke.
“You know when you’re on the field with him he’ll always give 110 per cent every week.
“It’s not only just the playing side of it (that’s important); it’s the training and keeping your body going at the level where you can compete with the young blokes going through.”
Pike also offered his opinion on North’s recent string of close losses, providing a possible insight into the mind of Brad Scott, also a premiership teammate at Brisbane in 2001 and 2002.
“If Brad’s coaching a style of play that gets North 30 points up he’d be looking at the players taking it to the 60 point margin and not trying to defend it.
“If they keep playing how they have been, eventually they’re going to beat sides by 10 goals. At the moment there’s a bit of pain because they’re playing that style without going too defensive when they get that lead.”
