EMERGING key forward Lachie Hansen says North Melbourne’s players are desperate to put in a good performance to honour Brent Harvey 300th game on Sunday.

The Kangaroos, who are almost certain to miss the finals after being thrashed by St Kilda in round 20, will celebrate their skipper’s milestone match at Subiaco Oval in Perth, where they’ll take on the West Coast Eagles.

“If there’s one game we want to win it’s that one,” Hansen said at Etihad Stadium after the loss to the Saints.

“He’s been a legend of the club, so everyone will be up and about, hoping to play well.

“We really want to do it for ‘Boomer’.”

North coach Brad Scott echoed Hansen’s sentiments.

“It’ll be a huge game, because he’s got so much respect,” Scott said. “The players love him and they’ll certainly want to perform for him.

“Knowing Boomer, he’ll just want to get a win for the club, like he does every week.

“But it’s going to be a huge week for us.”

Hansen has been one of the shining lights for North Melbourne in 2010, and he was impressive against the Saints, booting four goals.

“I’ve played forward now for probably the last 10 games and I’m really getting to know when to run,” Hansen said.

“I’m not just doing silly running like I used to, when I was sort of running up and down on the spot.

“When we get good delivery and everyone’s up and about we look really good. It’s good playing in the forward line when it’s like that.”

Hansen believes the Kangaroos will be good enough to push for a place in the final eight next year.

“It’s always been said that if we’re not good enough to make the eight this season, then so be it,” he said. “At the moment we’re ninth and that’s where we deserve to be.

“But the season hasn’t been too bad. We’ve improved a lot.

“Last time we played St Kilda [back in round two] we lost by 100 points, so we’ve improved in some areas and we look at the season as being a positive one.”