pre-season cup win. 21st season and retirement: 2008 In 2008, Harvey became the first player to ever play in 21 consecutive VFL/AFL seasons (however, this has since been overtaken by Dustin Fletcher's current record of 23). At 37 years of age, he played in 24 of St Kilda's 25 premiership season matches—including three finals—averaging 21 disposals per game. He had 31 disposals in another best-on-ground performance in St Kilda's Round 13 win against Fremantle. St Kilda qualified for the 2008 finals series inside the top four for the third time in five years. After a qualifying final loss and a semi-final win, Harvey lined up for St Kilda in what turned out to be his final game in the AFL on 20 September 2008 in a preliminary final against Hawthorn at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which St Kilda lost by 54 points, 9.10 (64) to 18.10 (118). Harvey was chaired off the ground by teammates Lenny Hayes and Max Hudghton to a respectful ovation, while players and officials from both sides formed a guard of honor. After the game, a tribute to his long career was played on the big screen. Harvey ended his career having played 383 games at the top level for over 21 seasons, from the age of 16 until he was 37, the second-longest senior career (in terms of seasons) in VFL/AFL history. The only players (at the time) to have played over 400 games in the VFL/AFL, Michael Tuck and Kevin Bartlett, both expressed their disappointment at what they both thought was a premature retirement, believing Harvey could have followed in their footsteps and reached the elusive 400-game milestone. Harvey received 215 Brownlow Medal votes during his career, the second-highest tally of any player in league history. He was also the only player in league history to have received Brownlow Medal votes in more than 100 games. He holds the record for most games played without winning a premiership, but he did participate in 17 finals series matches, including one grand final. He was the last remaining VFL/AFL player left who had played in the 1980s. State of Origin Harvey had a prolific State of Origin career. First playing for Victoria in 1991, against South Australia, scoring 2 goals. The following year, he was named in the best players against Western Australia and won the E. J. Whitten Medal against South Australia, scoring 1 goal