NORTH Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey would have been better off playing 30 years ago, according to coach Brad Scott, in an era when he could have defended himself from the tagging tactics employed by Fremantle stopper Ryan Crowley.Harvey gave evidence at the Tribunal on Tuesday night after Crowley was charged with misconduct for pinching the 35-year-old during last Sunday's clash at Patersons Stadium.Scott said he implored Harvey to tell the Tribunal the truth and "it was a pretty ordinary case that Fremantle put forward".He said the veteran was left in a position where he couldn't defend himself during the match and he didn't receive the necessary support from the umpires."If that was 30 years ago and he was subjected to what he was subjected to on the weekend, he would have just dropped Ryan Crowley," Scott said on Thursday."But he did that in the final over there in Perth last year and got six weeks."Boomer would prefer that 30 years ago he could react like he did in the final last year, but we're not prepared to have him sitting on the sidelines for six weeks."The player's either got to be defended by the umpire or he's got to have the right to defend himself."Scott said the umpires had the chance to make a statement when Harvey was put down before the start of the match on Sunday, but they didn't take it.Aside from one free kick that led to a Fremantle goal, he praised the former skipper for not reacting to Crowley's tactics like he did against West Coast last year, striking Eagles Adam Selwood and Daniel Kerr."Boomer's now at a point where he's trying to play the game," Scott said."For North Melbourne's sake, I'm happier that 'Boomer' took the approach he did, because last time he reacted he ended up on the sidelines for six weeks."That's what I'll keep instructing him to do. He's got to make sure he keeps control of the situation."The Kangaroos take on Greater Western Sydney on Sunday, with forward Robbie Tarrant in contention to return after kicking three goals in the VFL.Recruit Taylor Garner will be named in Thursday' 25-man squad and is in contention to make his debut, while Lindsay Thomas (hamstring) and Scott McMahon (ankle) needed to be assessed at Thursday's training session.Midfielder Jack Ziebell is set to return from suspension and Scott said he would be seeking clarification from the AFL at the end of the season on the penalties being handed down by the Match Review Panel."I think the penalties are too harsh for those players who are genuinely trying to make a contest," Scott said."Jack fits into that category where he consistently puts himself in a vulnerable position because he attacks the contest so hard."As a club we'll certainly be speaking to (football operations manager) Mark Evans and the AFL at the end of the year about the match review process and making it really clear that the players have a split second to decide."