BERNIE Vince has played 149 AFL matches. On Saturday against the West Coast Eagles at Patersons Stadium, he will play his 150th AFL match – and his 21st for the Demons – after 129 with Adelaide from 2006-13, plus a club champion award with the Crows in 2009. He spoke with melbournefc.com.au’s Matt Burgan in the lead-up to his milestone …

MB: Congratulations on your milestone Bernie. What does reaching 150 AFL matches mean to you?

BV: It’s not something you think of until it comes up. If you had have said I’d play 150 games when I was 18 or 19, I certainly wouldn’t have believed you. But I came through a bit differently – I didn’t play [underage] state footy – but the year I got drafted, I played country footy for half of that year. I probably never expected it – to play 150 games. It’s just another game, but it’s something you’ll look back on and say ‘to play 150 is a good thing’.

MB: You were also a talented cricketer before you were drafted. Was it a hard choice to make?

BV: The choice was made for me. I was playing A-grade cricket for Woodville in the district comp the day I got drafted. Getting drafted made the decision for me. I didn’t think I was going any further in cricket anyway. I love my cricket, but I’d probably made it as far as I was going to make it there.

MB: So you were a better footballer than cricketer?

BV: No, I always thought I was a better cricketer, but somehow footy just worked out for me. I never thought I was that good a footy player either – I just thought I was average at first – but it’s worked out somehow.

MB: You were a batsman and bowled a bit.

BV: I tried to be a batsman in the middle order. I used to open the batting, but at A-Grade, I was No.5.

MB: Footy takes you to different places. You’re playing your 150th in Perth, yet you’re from South Australia and now living in Victoria and playing for Melbourne. How have you found that part of your AFL career?

BV: Footy does take you places. You get to have a good look around the country side and I’ve played overseas as well in Dubai [for Adelaide] against Collingwood one year, so you get to go everywhere. That’s one of the good things about it – travelling around, but it’s always good to get back home and play in your home state. It would’ve been better if the 150th was a home game in Melbourne, but the family is coming over to Perth and they like getting away as well.

MB: What have you made of your first season with the Demons?

BV: There have been some tough times, but you can certainly see the light at the end of the tunnel. The last few weeks have been a real drop off in form compared to the rest of the season. I thought we got off to a slow start at the start of the year and then we got some really good footy together – and we matched it against the better sides and we’ve beaten some good sides.

MB: And what’s it been like playing under Paul Roos?

BV: There has been so much change at the footy club, but with Roosy at the helm, we’re certainly in the right direction.

MB: How do you feel now about being a two-club player?

BV: I enjoyed my time in Adelaide, but I’ve loved my time [in Melbourne] too. It’s something I would never have experienced, if I didn’t come over. It was a now or never moment and a really good opportunity for me. I’ve loved it and especially living in the city. It’d be great if we were higher on the ladder and we’ve had our chances to win some games, so it’s up to the players to turn it around. There are some good future players coming through too.

MB: Will any of your family or friends to be heading to Perth to watch you play?

BV: Mum and Dad are going over on Saturday morning and my girlfriend. I used to live with [Adelaide’s] Nathan van Berlo and they’re good family friends with them, so they’re going over and staying with them.

MB: What are your proudest moments from your 149 matches so far?

BV: Playing finals is the best part about it. With the Crows, the Showdown was always big games. I love playing every week – no matter who I play against or where I play. I just love footy – no matter what level I’m playing – it’s just that I’ve been very lucky to have played at the highest level that you can.