North champion Brent Harvey says he could be used as a substitute player this year in order to stay fresh in his 19th season.

After a late start in 2013, Harvey played just 16 matches but was able to have a major impact despite being 35 years of age.

''If you ask me, I'm going to say I want to play every game, like I do every other year so there might be a bit of a battle going on there,” Harvey told The Age’s Matt Murnane.

''But if [North coach] Brad [Scott] thinks it's going to help me with my football, and therefore help the team, I'm happy to do whatever he thinks.

''Although there is also the sub role as well, where you can come on for a quarter and half and still have an impact. So things like that, we will start looking at this year.''

The perfect candidate for a ''super sub'' role, Harvey could be used as a real weapon for the Roos late in games.

''I can't think of a better impact player than 'Boomer' coming on late in games,'' Scott said last year.

''I think that is the type of player, a guy who can carry the ball, can go up into the midfield, but also come back and kick or set up goals.

''He's pretty difficult to play on anyway because of his explosiveness. So, if he's coming on late in games fresh and other opposition players are fatigued, then he's going to be very hard to stop.''

Harvey was the best ranked mid-forward players in the competition last year and now has 362 games under his belt. If he plays every game this season, he’ll rocket past former greats on the all-time games played list including Brad Johnson (364), Bernie Quinlan (366), Craig Bradley (375), Dustin Fletcher* (378), Simon Madden (378) and Robert Harvey (383).

But whether Harvey reaches the 400 club and joins Kevin Bartlett (403) and Michael Tuck (426), is not something he’s entertaining, just yet.

''I can't look too far forward, unfortunately, at my age. You lose what you are about right now.

''If I look forward to next year and I have a crap year, then I won't get to next year.''