A [[printer (publisher)|printer]] by trade, Harvey first played in the Fitzroy First XI in 1938–39. Mick opened the batting with Merv, and in 1942–43, when Neil broke into the First XI, the family occupied the first four batting positions for the team; Merv and Mick opened and Ray and Neil came in after them.<ref>Harvey, pp. 30–31.</ref> During [[World War II]], Harvey enlisted in the [[Second Australian Imperial Force]] at Fitzroy on 4 March 1943 and was a member of the [[39th Battalion (Australia)|39th Infantry Battalion]] and went on to serve in [[Kokoda Track campaign|Kokoda]]. He was discharged on 29 March 1946 with the rank of private.<ref name=az/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteranVeteran.aspaspx?ServiceIDserviceId=A&VeteranIDveteranId=538696 |title=WW2 Nominal Roll – Harvey, Clarence |year=2002|accessdate=2010-07-12|publisher=[[Government of Australia]]}}</ref> He resumed cricket with Fitzroy at the war’s end and made enough runs to be selected for [[Victorian Bushrangers|Victoria]]’s first three [[Pura Cup|Sheffield Shield]] matches of the 1948–49 season.<ref name=az/> Playing as an [[Batting order (cricket)|opening batsman]], he made 10 and 13 on debut against [[Queensland Bulls|Queensland]], and was trapped [[leg before wicket]] (lbw) in both innings in an eight-wicket win. In the next match against [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]], who boasted Australia’s new ball opening bowlers [[Ray Lindwall]] and [[Keith Miller]], Harvey made 19 and 33 in a drawn match. In the subsequent match against [[Southern Redbacks|South Australia]], he made 4 and 12, again being trapped lbw in both innings.<ref name=omi>{{cite web| title=Player Oracle CE Harvey|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=16139&opponentmatch=exact&playername=Meckiff&resulttype=All&matchtype=All&teammatch=exact&startwicket=&homeawaytype=All&opponent=&endwicket=&wicketkeeper=&searchtype=InningsList&endscore=&playermatch=contains&branding=cricketarchive&captain=&endseason=&startscore=&team=&startseason= |accessdate=2009-05-14 |publisher= [[CricketArchive]]}}</ref> The 1948–49 season was purely domestic with no touring Test team, so all of Australia’s international representatives were available for the whole season. Having scored only 91 runs at a [[batting average]] of 15.16, Harvey was dropped from the team.<ref name=omi/><ref name=sch>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/ask_the_scorecard_oracle.cgi |title=Scorecard Oracle |publisher=[[CricketArchive]] |accessdate=2010-06-23}}</ref> He did not play alongside Ray, who was dropped, and Merv, who had retired.<ref name=om>{{cite web| title=Player Oracle MR Harvey|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=764&opponentmatch=exact&playername=Meckiff&resulttype=All&matchtype=All&teammatch=exact&startwicket=&homeawaytype=All&opponent=&endwicket=&wicketkeeper=&searchtype=InningsList&endscore=&playermatch=contains&branding=cricketarchive&captain=&endseason=&startscore=&team=&startseason= |accessdate=2009-05-14 |publisher= [[CricketArchive]]}}</ref><ref name=or>{{cite web| title=Player Oracle R Harvey|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=16141&opponentmatch=exact&playername=Meckiff&resulttype=All&matchtype=All&teammatch=exact&startwicket=&homeawaytype=All&opponent=&endwicket=&wicketkeeper=&searchtype=InningsList&endscore=&playermatch=contains&branding=cricketarchive&captain=&endseason=&startscore=&team=&startseason= |accessdate=2009-05-14 |publisher= [[CricketArchive]]}}</ref> It was Harvey's last season for Fitzroy, and in 90 first-grade matches, he scored 2,601 runs at an average of 30.24.<ref name=c564>Coleman, p. 564.</ref>
