North Melbourne's best attempts to promote Brent Harvey's record-equalling 311th game have been overshadowed, with the skipper forced to deny he is a selfish player.

Following last week's one-point loss to Sydney and uncertainty over whether the Kangaroos can sell two home games to Hobart in future seasons, the struggling club couldn't even present glowing tributes for Harvey to the media without reporters dragging up references to Harvey's so-called selfish nature.

The 33-year-old Harvey will lead the 14th-placed Kangaroos in Sunday's clash with Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, equalling former teammate Glenn Archer's club record of 311 matches.

But Dermott Brereton's attack on Harvey for being too selfish in front of goal was the issue which dominated Thursday's media conference at Aegis Park.

Harvey and coach Brad Scott phoned the Hawthorn great to make their point they thought his comments on radio were incorrect.

"The thing that I didn't like about it was when he spoke about the culture and the legacy that I would leave would be a selfish one," Harvey said.

"I don't see how people from outside a football club can really comment on that because, obviously, they've got not a lot of idea about what happens inside the football club."

Scott said Harvey was under instruction to play to his strengths, which were breaking defensive lines and kicking team-lifting goals.

"I do take exception to the fact that it was being insinuated that he would leave a poor legacy and a selfish legacy, because nothing could be further from the truth," Scott said.

Archer also heaped praise on Harvey, saying the 172cm veteran had achieved great things since joining the Kangaroos in 1996 weighing 64 kilograms.

"They (the players) just thought he was the kid trying to get autographs. He was four-feet tall and looked about 14," Archer said.

"Wayne Carey is the best player I've ever seen and he sits up on his own and then there's a gap to 'Boomer' (Harvey), Malcolm Blight, Keith Greig. I reckon they're all on a par," said Archer, who was a premiership teammate of Harvey's in 1999.

"For Brent to do what he has done has been remarkable. Five best and fairests, more than any other player at the footy club, All-Australian, a premiership, he has done it all."

Archer said he found it frustrating when commentators like Brereton made statements from outside a club without knowing what went on in the inner sanctum.

"Dermie has just seen something on one clip that may to him have looked selfish," said Archer, who retired in 2007.

"But you can't brand someone's 16-year career with something like that when it's completely false."

Scott, a former teammate of superstar skipper Michael Voss at Brisbane, said he'd never seen a more professional player than Harvey.

"He makes others around him better," Scott said.

"He's showing no signs that the end is near."

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