As the most recent EJ Whitten Medallist, North Melbourne midfielder Brent Harvey is rapt to have been named in Victoria's 40-man squad for next month's Hall of Fame Tribute Match.
Harvey had just turned 21 when the last State of Origin match was played at a very wet MCG in 1999 and made the most of his late call-up to the Vics' ranks, kicking five goals to win the medal and help the hosts thrash South Australia by 54 points.
Having been named alongside his Kangaroos captain Adam Simpson in the initial squad for the May 10 clash against the Dream Team at the MCG, Harvey would love to pull on the 'Big V' one more time.
"(I'm) looking forward (to it), if I get the chance, obviously I'm only in the initial squad, so if I get the chance to play (I will)," Harvey said.
"I know when I was young I was 21 the last time I did it, I'm a little bit older now, and for the young guys coming through to represent your state is going to be a fantastic achievement."
Asked whether he would prefer to put his feet up that weekend as none of the 16 clubs will be in action, the 29-year-old said he definitely wouldn't pass up the opportunity.
"Maybe because back then it happened every year and now it's obviously happening at all so yeah I might appreciate it a little more," he said. "(But) I haven't given it too much thought because obviously we've just found out we're in the squad."
"My body still feels pretty good, I'm 29 years old and hopefully I've got a few years left in me, but in saying that my body feels like I'm probably 25 or 26."
With the Roos sitting seventh on the ladder with a 2-2 win-loss record so far in 2008, Harvey can't wait to try to continue his fine form of the past couple of rounds on Saturday night against Collingwood at the MCG.
"All the boys are that excited, 32,000 members, we had Melbourne on the weekend, they put up a fight, but this weekend's going to be a huge challenge for the footy club and all the boys are pretty excited," he said of the clash with the Pies, who will be on the rebound from Sunday's loss to Carlton.
"I think they'll be fired up anyway, it's always a big game North Melbourne versus Collingwood Football