ROBERT Harvey has clarified the surprising expression of regret he made at his testimonial dinner when he lamented the fact that he had captained St Kilda for only two years.

The Saints' champion, who plays his 350th match at Subiaco Oval today, made the candid admission in his speech last Saturday night.

The comments, in isolation, came across as a veiled criticism of his former coach, Grant Thomas, who, while in charge at St Kilda, introduced a unique rotating captains policy in which Harvey passed on the title to Aaron Hamill at the end of 2002.

"I loved those two years and if I had my time again, I'd love to do it a bit more," Harvey said at the dinner.

Thomas was not invited to the function and did not feature in any of the video or written tributes to the dual Brownlow medallist. But in an interview with The Age this week, Harvey said his choice of words on the night had been clumsy and, as a result, misunderstood.

"My family and my close friends would have known what I meant by that," he said before leaving for Perth to play his milestone match.

"When I gave the captaincy up, I was well and truly at the age to give it up, and I probably would have suggested it anyway. I'd had two years of injuries, a knee reco, a shoulder reco, and I was 31. The time was right, absolutely," Harvey said.

"I was all for the rotational captaincy. I reckon it was great. Aaron was perfect to take over when he did and the others have all benefited greatly from it.

"… I said that to Grant straight up. I never had a drama with it. The regret I had, and why I said that I wanted to be captain longer, is that I suppose I didn't get out there enough when I was younger and try and chase it. I just played under 'Spud' (Danny Frawley) and I would have loved to have done it when I was a bit younger, to get that experience and to get the idea of leading.

"I understand how it came across that way, but it had nothing to do with me losing the captaincy."

He also said Thomas — one of seven men who coached Harvey and the one who directed him in the most games — would have been welcome at his dinner.

"I have no dramas with Thommo myself, absolutely none. He wished me well on Saturday and I spoke to him on Monday and there were no dramas at all.

"I didn't check the guest list, I didn't make a special request to have (former coaches) Stan Alves there or Tim Watson there.

"I would have loved him (Thomas) to be there and had no dramas with him being there. I understand there's tension between him and the club, or certain people at the club."

While lacking nothing in motivation, even in his 20th season, though admitting that he is playing this year as if it were his last. Harvey has the support of club chief executive Archie Fraser to play on for another season, if his form held up.

"It will be absolutely his choice," Fraser said, "but at the moment, he's still an elite runner and with the way he's been playing, you'd be encouraging him to go on.

"I don't see why he can't keep going, but we won't ask him until he's ready to answer the question, and that probably wouldn't be until September."

Fraser said the club would mark Harvey's milestone at its game against Richmond next week, despite the midfielder's reluctance.

"In typical Harvs style, he doesn't want much to happen, so it will be more about fan interaction," he said.

"If he gets cleared after the weekend, we'll roll into something next week to make sure we get as many people to the game as possible and that they can salute a pretty incredible achievement."

When he does retire, Harvey said he was interested in a coaching role.

"If the club wanted me to do something and help them out, I'd be more than happy to help them out," he said.

With EMMA QUAYLE