Brent Harvey's 250th game on Sunday will be one of this season's more memorable moments but the man in the limelight may have no recollection of the event.

Harvey left the field dazed and confused in the opening minutes of the game but returned to inspire his side to a thrilling victory.

Not only did he kick the goal of the night in the opening quarter but his second major in the final term delivered his side the lead for the first time since moments prior to quarter time.

North coach Dean Laidley said 'it was great to pay homage to one of the all-time greats' of the football club.

He said he hoped Harvey would remember the occasion 'because it was a wonderful performance for the whole team'.

"He was knocked senseless there, he had the staggers and to regroup and come back on and do the things that he did at critical times I thought again is a testament to the way he's matured," Laidley said.

"It's been a real privilege for me to coach him."

Laidley left the coach's box as soon as Johnson marked with one second remaining and did not see the Bulldogs veteran miss his after-the-siren shot for victory due to an elevator malfunction.

"So halfway down the aisle all I saw was our boys put their hands in the air," said Laidley, who was quick to join his team on the field.

But Laidley said he would still have been proud of his team even if Johnson had scored a match-winning goal.

"I thought well that's what happens. I thought we did everything that we possibly could," he said.

Unlike after his 300th game when he booted three goals in five minutes then watched as Adelaide's Nathan Bock missed his chance for glory after the siren, Johnson did not front the media on Sunday.

His coach Rodney Eade said he could not think of many other players in the team he would want having such a kick for goal but refused to blame Johnson's miss for the loss.

"At the end of the day it's the thing that loses the game but not really," Eade said.

"There's a lot of other factors in the game and individual efforts and unfortunately it comes down to that last kick but we know we certainly had our chances at times."

The Bulldogs have only six days to regroup before tackling league leader Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday.

It starts a testing five-week run for the Bulldogs, who face in-form sides Collingwood and Brisbane Lions and must also travel to Darwin to tackle Port Adelaide prior to their mid-season break.

"There's interstate travel and we're playing good teams. Most of the teams are in the eight," he said.

"It's a pretty tough period for us. That's what footy's about and we're looking forward to that."