Get off Robert Harvey's back!
That was the message from St Kilda on Tuesday in response to former coach Grant Thomas questioning the dual Brownlow Medalist's value to the side these days.
Thomas claimed this week that Harvey - the game's oldest player (he turns 37 in August) - had decided to play on for one year too many after agreeing to saddle up for a 21st season in 2008.
Harvey, winner of the Brownlow Medal in 1997 and 1998, is also a four-time St Kilda best-and-fairest winner and the club's games record holder having played the first of his 359 games way back in 1988.
But Harvey, who would have retired as early as 2004 had the Saints been able to end a premiership drought stretching back to 1966 that season instead of losing in the preliminary final, has appeared to slow down dramatically during the Saints' NAB Cup campaign - seemingly losing his famous ability to break tackles.
However the much-improved Leigh Montagna - one of Harvey's many proteges in the Saints' midfield - said the club's favourite son still had plenty to offer.
"That was a real surprise," Montagna said, when asked about Thomas' comments on Tuesday as the Saints continued their preparations for Saturday night's pre-season decider against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
Montagna said just because Harvey is no longer considered the Saints' best player it did not mean he was still not a valuable member of the side.
"'Harvs' is not going to be what he was like in 1997 and 1998 but we don't expect him to," Montagna said.
"We just want him to play a role in the team and he can still be a damaging player."
"If Harvs gets left under the radar and they (opposition teams) start focusing on other players then he (Harvey) will still be able to cut up teams."
"So it's a bit early to be talking like that, about a player like Rob Harvey."
However despite his latest comments, Montagna said the Saints still respected their former coach - who led the team to the 2004 and 2005 preliminary finals before being replaced by Ross Lyon at the end of the 2006 season.
"I think now we can differentiate between Grant our former coach and Grant the commentator," Montagna said.
"He is going to have opinions as a commentator, like the other commentators do, and I don't really think it concerns us too much now."
Montagna added the criticism from Thomas would have little effect on the unflappable Harvey.
"It hasn't been spoken about and I wouldn't think it would bother Harvs too much," Montagna said.
"He has seen enough now and he has heard that sort of criticism before so I don't think it will bother him."