NORTH Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey is on the verge of returning to the top 10 in the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Vero, after a number of brilliant recent performances.

Harvey, who was rated the fourth-best player in the competition early in 2012, led the Kangaroos to a stirring win over Geelong at Etihad Stadium last Friday night.

His 37 possessions, four marks and five tackles were worth 20.1 player ratings points, which lifted his two-year running tally to 559.


The 35-year-old, who dropped to 19th on the player ratings ladder during his six-week suspension at the start of the season, has climbed to 13th since returning.

If he can produce another great performance when North Melbourne tackles Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, Harvey will close the gap on the current No. 10, Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli.

Rioli's two-year running points tally stands at 575.

TOP SCORERS WHEN THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS LAST MET
St Kilda v Hawthorn: Round 6, 2012
1. Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) 26.1
2. Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) 19.3
3. Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) 18.3

Richmond v Brisbane Lions: Round 19, 2012
1. Ivan Maric (Richmond) 26.1
2. Brett Deledio (Richmond) 20
3. Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions) 17.4

Geelong v Port Adelaide: Round 9, 2013
1. Steven Motlop (Geelong) 24.2
2. Tom Hawkins (Geelong) 21.5
3. Harry Taylor (Geelong) 20.2

Carlton v Western Bulldogs: Round 17, 2012
1. Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs) 21.3
2. Eddie Betts (Carlton) 20.7
3. Jeff Garlett (Carlton) 20

Gold Coast v Melbourne: Round 7, 2013
1. Sam Day (Gold Coast) 20.5
2. Gary Ablett (Gold Coast) 19.1
3. Zac Smith (Gold Coast) 16.9

Sydney Swans v Collingwood: Round 9, 2013
1. Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans) 24.1
2. Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney Swans) 17.2
3. Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) 16.8

Essendon v West Coast: Round 14, 2013
1. Jake Carlisle (Essendon) 24.3
2. Jack Darling (West Coast) 18.7
3. Matt Priddis (West Coast) 18.2

Adelaide v North Melbourne: Round 9, 2013
1. Richard Douglas (Adelaide) 27.3
2. Sam Kerridge (Adelaide) 23.8
3. Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne) 23.5

Fremantle v Greater Western Sydney: Round 17, 2012
1. Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle) 21
2. Stephen Hill (Fremantle) 17.8
3. Michael Walters (Fremantle) 15.6

Adam McNicol is a journalist with AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_AdamMcNiol