NORTH Melbourne saluted champion midfielder Brent Harvey in his 300th AFL game, overcoming a slow start to topple a plucky West Coast by 16 points at Subiaco Oval on Sunday afternoon.  

The Roos, who had their slim finals hopes dashed by Hawthorn on Saturday, kicked six of the last eight goals of the game to celebrate their skipper’s milestone game with a 16.14 (110) to 14.10 (94) win. 

Harvey, who became the fourth Kangaroo to play 300 games, wore a heavy tag from young Eagle Pat McGinnity all day but finished with 26 possessions and five inside 50s.

The 32-year-old was given a guard of honour by the Eagles and Kangaroos players and he was chaired off by teammates Brady Rawlings and Michael Firrito.

West Coast showed improvement despite missing a host of experienced players, but the club’s 12th loss in 13 games meant their last game at Subiaco Oval for the season was also their eighth straight loss at home - a club record.

Andrew Swallow (27 possessions and three goals) was superb for the Roos, while Aaron Edwards and Ben Warren also booted three goals each to drag their side back into the contest after a sluggish opening.

West Australian Daniel Wells relished the Subiaco space, winning 23 damaging possessions, while Cruize Garlett, Levi Greenwood and Ben Cunnington played key midfield roles, sharing 16 clearances between them.   

For the Eagles, their best football was played early when Shannon Hurn and Beau Waters drove them off half-back, while a number of young midfielders showed encouraging signs. 

Missing senior onballers Matt Priddis, Adam Selwood and Daniel Kerr, youngsters Brad Ebert (25 possessions) and Scott Selwood (22) stood up, while Nic Naitanui (19 hit-outs) also had an impact.

Elevated rookie Callum Wilson booted four goals in an impressive performance.

West Coast              4.4    7.6      10.10    14.10 (94)
North Melbourne    1.4    6.10    10.13    16.14 (110)

GOALS
West Coast: Wilson 4, LeCras 2, Masten, Hurn, Waters, Selwood, Hams, Naitanui, Embley, Smith
North Melbourne: Wright 4, Edwards 3, Swallow 3, Warren 3, Wells, McIntosh, Thompson

BEST
West Coast: Hurn, Embley, Rosa, Cox, Shuey, Wilson, Selwood
North Melbourne: Swallow, Rawlings, Wells, Harvey, McMahon, Garlett, Wright

INJURIES
West Coast: None
North Melbourne: Adams (concussion, nose)

Reports: Beau Waters (West Coast) for charging Leigh Adams in the first quarter

Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, Schmitt

Official crowd: 32,007 at Subiaco Oval

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.