He might be the smallest player in the team but when it comes to experience Brent Harvey is definitely the elder statesman of the Victorian side that will take on the Dream Team in Saturday night's AFL Hall of Fame tribute match.

The Kangaroos rover is one of just three survivors in the 30-man squad from Victoria's last match in 1999 and of the other two - Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson is unlikely to play due to injury while Hawthorn's Trent Croad played only a cameo role in that nine-goal win over South Australia nine years ago.

But Harvey was the star of the show that day, kicking five goals and winning the EJ Whitten Medal as best afield.

The little Kangaroos rover, now one of the most experienced players in the AFL with 248 games under his belt, admits he can hardly believe it was nine years since the Big V last played as a team.

"I don't reckon a few of the boys even know I played for the Vics," he said of his new team-mates.

"Kevin Sheedy (the Vics' assistant coach) mentioned something quickly about it last night but other than I don't reckon too many of the boys would even know."

Harvey said when he reflected back on that game this week - even checking out to see just who his team-mates were that day - he said the game seemed like a lifetime ago.

"I was actually thinking about that this morning - just who was in the team and you lose track of the names," he said.

"Guys like (long-retired Melbourne star) Andrew Leoncelli was playing and so was (now television commentator and former Demon) David Schwarz and (former Geelong champion) Garry Hocking was captain and even (now Carlton coach) Brett Ratten was playing."

"I was only 21 then and now I am just on the good side of 30 (Harvey turns 30 next week) and I am just rapt to be back representing the Big V."

Harvey said Saturday night's match will be a fantastic experience for the players who have not previously played state football.

"At that stage (in 1999) I didn't know (it was going to be the last state game for nine years) because they weren't talking about the future of state footy at that stage but it's a great concept and I would like to think it could happen at least every two or three years."

"It's fantastic for young guys like (Geelong's 2007 Rising Star winner) Joel Selwood to represent the Big V and I am just looking so forward to pulling on the jumper again."