AFL Origin: Brent Harvey reflects on his career-shaping day for Victoria in 1999 that was ‘the making of me’

I was 21 when I played a game of State of Origin for Victoria. Actually, it was the day after my own 21st birthday party. I had really only played one good season after being drafted before I was picked as a late inclusion in 1999. Carlton legend Rod Austin called me to tell me I’d been added to the squad, but I learnt later that the great Robert DiPierdomenico was behind my selection and had pushed hard for me to play in meetings. He always joked with me that he made my career by picking me in that team. Because I was the late inclusion I really didn’t think I would play that match against South Australia. I went down to training with North Melbourne teammate David King and I just felt completely out of my depth, even just being in the same changerooms as some of those stars. I barracked for Geelong growing up and I absolutely loved Origin. I would watch Victorian teams at the MCG that included greats of the game like Tony Lockett and Jason Dunstall. But as a Cats fan, I was always really watching Gary Ablett Snr. I’d always watch it and just think, ‘what if that was me one day’. You wanted to play AFL football first, but Origin was just the biggest bonus of all time. You could see how important it was to all of these guys to play for Victoria and it was unbelievable to see them fight for their State. It’s true what they say about State trainings. The ball really did zip around that night, it was like when you watch the NBA players doing all of their tricks at the All-Star Game. I can remember pulling up and seeing all these stars get out of their cars and feeling way out of place. I thought there was no way known I’d be picked in the actual team. If everyone got through without any injuries I was no chance, so I was just looking to learn as much as I could from these guys at training, particularly around how the best players in the game prepared and trained. The game was in the mid-season break, so I had my 21st booked in on the Friday night. I kept the party going because I clearly didn’t think I was going to play and then on the Thursday night they told me I was in. It was too late to cancel, so I went through with it — a quiet night for me of course, but not so much for everyone else — and then they all came to the footy the next day. I was lucky enough to win the EJ Whitten Medal for Victoria that night. It was raining really heavily when I woke up and I knew straight away it would be a great opportunity for me playing as a small forward. I was hoping to just make a small impact, but I ended up kicking five goals. I think Dipper was right, that game probably was the making of me as a player, it made me realise I did belong at the level. I have a laugh about it with my mate Brad Johnson, who kicked three goals and had 20 disposals, because he possibly should have won that medal. The club coaches would all say ‘just don’t get injured’ before an Origin match and that’s really the reason the concept didn’t continue at the time, but I know that when I was out there, my sole objective was to win a game for Victoria and have a massive crack. It was the one and only time I played and I was devastated I couldn’t do it more. I’m thrilled to see it back in Perth this year. I know how much representing Victoria meant to me, with all of my family, friends and North Melbourne people watching on and I hope the boys playing this time around are given a history lesson, because most of them weren’t even born when we played for the final time. I think about all the legends who pulled on that jumper and EJ — the biggest advocate for State footy there ever was — and his emotional farewell lap around the MCG. That’s what it meant for me to play for Victoria and I can’t wait for more young footballers to experience it.