BERNIE Vince is set to play his 200^th AFL game this Saturday night, coincidentally against the side where it all began for him, the Adelaide Crows. A dual AFL best and fairest winner (Adelaide, 2009) and Melbourne (2015), Vince is a much-loved player among fans of both clubs. He spoke with Matt Burgan in the lead-up to his milestone in a wide-ranging interview …

BACK TO WHERE IT ALL STARTED

MB: Bernie, thanks for your time. Congratulations on 200 games – it’s a great achievement. Of the 12,530 VFL/AFL players to have played, you’ll become the 549^th to have reached the double-ton.

BV: Thanks. Yes, it is a great achievement. It’s something I’ll look back on and be proud of. It’s going to be a great Saturday night to play in too.

MB: How do you reflect on your milestone?

BV: It’s something I’ll look back on more fondly when I finish.

MB: And the match has been orchestrated back in Adelaide.

BV: It’s funny how it all works out. It was going to work out that it was against Hawthorn last weekend, but then I had a suspension earlier on this season. It’s just so happened that it’s against Adelaide in Adelaide. It’s probably the toughest task there is in footy, especially Adelaide coming off a loss. It’s great that my family and friends can get there. A lot of them were coming over to Melbourne anyway, but I got suspended in round one. They’re all rapt to be coming and hopefully we can put on a good show for them.

MB: How many flights had to be changed that you know of?

BV: I think there were a few booked in nice and early, so they were a bit cheaper, but I stuffed that up for them. I’ve done that a few times, so that’s my fault.

GROWING UP IN SA

MB: You grew up in Stansbury on the Yorke Peninsula. What was that like growing up in country SA?

BV: It’s a great little country town. The footy team folded and became the CMS (Curramulka Minlaton Stansbury) Crows and Stansbury was a bit of a battling town. In terms of cricket, we used to get flogged every week. We turned that around and now we’re one of the most successful in the region. We’ve won something like 13 of the past 15 flags. I just love it there and it’s a good little getaway and it’s on the water. There is a whole lot of things to do – fishing, going out on the boat and skiing. We’re inland with our farm, but it’s only 15 minutes away. A lot of friends and family are still over there, so that’ll still always be home for me.

MB: What’s the farm like?

BV: Dad does a lot of leasing and share farming. He runs a few sheep, but it’s mainly cropping – wheat, barley and canola.

MB: Would you ever go move back there?

BV: I often get asked that, but the longer I’m in footy and in Melbourne, I can’t see myself going back there, especially on the farm. The good thing is that it’s only a short flight away. You can fly back wherever.

THE ROAD TO THE AFL

MB: What are your early footy memories?

BV: I wasn’t one of these kids where all I wanted to do was play AFL footy. I was never even close to making a state team – I was down the pecking order in my local team. When it all happened for me – it all happened really quick. I didn’t even get the chance to even work out if footy was my thing. I’ve always loved footy, no matter what level I’ve played at. Ron Fuller was the coach at Woodville-West Torrens in 2005 and he got in contact with me a fair bit and wanted me to play with them. We were trying to make the finals with CMS Crows and I didn’t really want to go down. I thought training would be too hard and I wouldn’t make it anyway, and it’d be a waste of time. He kept at me and our team was in their zone, so they got me down. I didn’t look back.

MB: What happened next when you went to Woodville-West Torrens (Eagles)?

BV: I played a few reserves games and then managed to get into the league team. I was rapt that I’d played a league game with the Eagles. I only played four games, but three were finals. I had an all right finals series and I was a 20-year-old by that stage and was two years out of school. I managed to get drafted from that, so I went from country footy to reserves to SANFL and then round one with Adelaide the next year in 2006. In the space of 10 to 12 games, I played at four different levels. I didn’t make the decision to take on footy – it just all happened for me that way and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s just a different pathway.

MB: You were somewhat of a smoky leading into the 2006 AFL Draft, but you had at least three other clubs keeping a close eye on you. What do you remember about that period?

BV: North Melbourne and St Kilda showed some interest, but I thought it was a joke at first. I also went up to Sydney and met Roosy (Paul Roos), when he was coaching the Swans. They’d won the 2005 premiership and played in the 2006 Grand Final, so I thought it was pretty cool just to have a shower with Barry Hall! I thought that was another thing I could tick off – having a shower with Barry Hall! (Laughing) I had a bit of a kick up there. [Former North Melbourne player] Peter Jonas was up at Sydney, before he came to the Crows as an assistant coach. Sydney said they might take me in the rookie draft, but other than that no-one else said too much. After the draft, I think they were all trying to keep it quiet and take me late in the draft. Adelaide took me at pick No.32, which was quite early for someone who had just come out of country footy – and you didn’t know what you were going to get. I hadn’t done a pre-season and I certainly got woken up when I tried to start running, but I got up to speed in the first few years.

CRICKET OR FOOTY?

MB: You also played district cricket for Woodville-West Torrens. Tell us about that.

BV: I was actually playing cricket the day of the draft. The draft used to be on a Saturday and I was playing ones. Daniel Harris, who played a lot of cricket for South Australia, was our captain. He also played for the Melbourne Renegades in the Twenty20. He was from a local town, 10 minutes from Stansbury, so that was the connection there, through his Dad ‘Sparks’ Harris. He could see a bit [of talent] in me and said ‘you should come down’. Adelaide seemed far away, back in the day, but it’s only a couple of hours’ drive. My ‘Puppa Rog’ (Roger Vince) used to take me down when Mum and Dad couldn’t. We used to make a bit of a weekend of it. It was a long trip when you made a duck and came back on a two-hour trip. But he kept doing it, along with Mum and Dad. They’d take it in turns. I played a full season of district, working my way up.

MB: And you were a handy batsman too from all reports.

BV: I ended up bowling a bit, but I was a batsman. I played a lot of cricket with [South Australian cricketer] Chadd Sayers [who has been part of the Australian squad] at Woodville. He was taking wickets back then – and still does. He’s taken that many wickets it’s not funny – even at Sheffield Shield level. It’s unbelievable. I used to open the batting a bit with him in juniors. He used to be a bit of a batsman, but he doesn’t make too many now.

MB: Footy won out in the end, but do you think you were a better footballer or cricketer? And how far do you think you could’ve gone with cricket?

BV: I was probably a better cricketer. But I don’t think I was going any further in cricket. I’d like to be a good cricketer.

MB: So would you rather win an AFL premiership or play Test cricket for Australia?

BV: I know Test cricket isn’t going to happen, so I’d rather win a flag with Melbourne. But if you asked me that when I was 18, I’d probably say Test cricket.

A CROW, THEN A DEMON

MB: How do you look back on your time with Adelaide?

BV: It was a huge eye-opener joining the club. When I got down, I didn’t realise what was involved in an AFL career. I played round one and it all happened really quickly – I didn’t really know how I’d got there or what was required to stay there. I only played four games in my first year and six in my second, so I was 22 years old after my first two years and had only played 10 games, because I didn’t get drafted at 18 like the others. I didn’t even know if that was going to be it.

MB: What changed?

BV: Goody (Simon Goodwin) and Roo (Mark Ricciuto) pulled me aside after my second year, because I was a bit of a floater. I just enjoyed a good time and I was a bit slack. They said ‘we think you can play’, which is a fair bit coming from those two after you’ve only played 10 games in two years and they’ve done everything they’ve already done. They said ‘if you want to play, you’ve got to pull your finger out and train hard’. I was saying all the right things when I was in the room with them, and then I didn’t actually realise how hard it was going to be.

MB: Goody has been a big influence on your career, hasn’t he?

BV: Yes. The next few years I trained with Goody in the off-season and he certainly taught me how to train – he got me fit. I played every game in 2008, except two because of a hamstring injury, so I cemented my spot. I then won the best and fairest in 2009, when there were some good players in the side. We were a pretty good side and unlucky to lose the first semi-final against Collingwood by five points, when Jack Anthony kicked the winning goal with about 20 seconds to go. It was shattering. And the bloody prelim loss in 2012 was shattering as well.

MB: And now you’re at Melbourne with Simon Goodwin. Can you believe how it’s played out that two of Adelaide’s favourite sons have dropped the gold for just the red and blue?

BV: You wouldn’t have picked that was going to happen – you’d never ever put any money on it. It’s funny how footy works out. I caught up with Goody a lot when I first came over to Melbourne and he was an assistant coach at Essendon. At one stage, he started asking me a lot of questions about Melbourne. We weren’t going that well – I wondered why he was asking about certain players etc. I thought he was going to poach someone, so I didn’t talk up how good some players were, because I thought he’s going to take them. Little did I know what would eventuate. He told me later on that he was interested in taking a role [at Melbourne] and that got me pretty excited, because I knew what he could bring to the group. He was the perfect guy for the job after Roosy finished his three years here. I think he’s doing a great job, but we’ve let him down in some quarters this year. We’ve been in every game – we’re fourth in the competition for quarters won – so we’ve had one bad quarter a game and it’s cost us some wins. We just need to turn that around.

MB: How do you reflect on your move to Melbourne?

BV: It was the [fear of the] unknown and it was daunting at first, because I didn’t know any different. I was really comfortable at Adelaide, but I’ve still managed to play some good footy here. I was probably at that stage in my career where I needed a test. I didn’t see myself moving from Adelaide, but the potential move was suggested by the coach at the time, Brenton Sanderson, and the management there. I still had one year to go on my contract and it was very similar to Lewie’s (Jordan Lewis) situation. The Crows were trying to get back in the draft, because they had the draft penalties from the Kurt Tippett situation, so Adelaide didn’t have a later pick in the draft for a couple of years. For me to go to Melbourne, Adelaide got pick No.23. That was another reason why they wanted to trade me – someone with a bit of currency, so they could get back in the draft. As soon as I heard about the possibility of me being traded, I thought ‘if you don’t want me, I want to prove you wrong at another club’.

MB: Why Melbourne?

BV: I wasn’t going to move to another city, apart from Melbourne, and after speaking to a few clubs, I felt the Melbourne footy club was the best fit. I don’t think I would’ve come to Melbourne, if it wasn’t for Roosy either. I had a bit of time with Roosy in Sydney, even though it was only for three or four days. I had that connection there and I felt comfortable because I also knew Todd Viney, who was my midfield coach at Adelaide in my best and fairest year. I felt this was the right club, even though it’d come off some really poor years. I actually put the team together and I thought ‘there are some good players here, it just needs a bit of direction’. When Roosy was appointed, I thought that’s all it needs. I could see the team turning it around really quickly and it’s probably taken a bit longer than what I hoped, but you’re always a bit greedy when it comes to time. Time for me is running out and I don’t have long, so I want it to happen now – and every year.

MB: How much longer have you got in the game?

BV: People ask me that and I say it’s a year-to-year thing. I’d like to think I’ve got a few more good years left in me. But things change and you’re one serious injury away from not being able to do that, so fingers crossed. I’ve been pretty lucky on the injury front, so I’ll go for as long as they want me here.

PEOPLE IN FOOTY

MB: I thought it’d be fun to get a quick word association or a few words on the following people. I’ll start off with Simon Goodwin. How would you describe him?

BV: He’s a footy nut. He loves it.

MB: Taylor Walker?

BV: He’s a character, Tex. Character is best word to describe him.

MB: Max Gawn?

BV: Alternative. But he likes to be known as alternative too. He pushes his own envelope.

MB: Jordan Lewis?

BV: Hyperactive. I didn’t think he’d be like that. I expected this guy to come in and be a student of the game, but he’s like Christian Petracca – you’ve got to calm him down sometimes. He’s full on.

MB: Paul Roos?

BV: I’d say, perfect.

MB: Very good answers. Who else are you great mates with through footy?

BV: I’ve had a lot to do with Hibbo (Michael Hibberd), even when he wasn’t at the club last year, and Melky (Jake Melksham). I actually spoke to Melky when he was at Essendon. I met Melky at a café after Goody got me to meet with him. I’d never even met the bloke. Goody just said ‘go and speak to Melky’. I said ‘what do you want me to say to him?’ He said ‘just go and meet him and tell Melky your story’. We met at a café near my place and I thought ‘this guy is a good bloke’. I just told my story and what had happened to me. And then Melky opened up and then we left it at that. Whatever said must’ve worked, because he wanted to come to Melbourne. We were pretty close from then on. Although he missed last year, we caught up heaps.

MB: What did Goodwin say to you after you’d met Melksham? 

BV: Goody was Melky’s only contact at the footy club. Melky wanted someone else to tell him what the direction of the footy club was like. I told Melky my story and what we stand for. I think that’s what Goody wanted in the end, but he didn’t tell me at the start.

MB: And then you met Hibberd through Melksham?

BV: I met Hibbo through Melky, as they’re pretty close, so I’ve spent a bit of time with them.

MB: Who are the best players you’ve seen or played with?

BV: [Lance] ‘Buddy’ Franklin can play just about any position and is that dangerous, particularly when he was at his absolute peak. The year he kicked 100 goals, he was that unstoppable. He played wing and could’ve played in the ruck or back. He’s unbelievable. Gary Ablett at his peak was unstoppable. I always respect really good leaders like Luke Hodge – I love the way he goes about it. At his peak, he was very good too. I played with a few guns too. Andrew McLeod was unbelievable, along with Goody. I played with Roo at the backend of his career, but he was a champion. Tyson Edwards was another great player – he was a gun.

JOKE TIME

MB: Now, you like a laugh and a joke. What’s your funniest footy moment?

BV: When I played against Adelaide for the first time, I kicked the wrong way. I kicked it straight to Tex, but I didn’t try to kick it to him. There was a bit of push and shove, and a few things on my mind at the time. I won the centre bounce and took off quickly one way. I’ve kicked the ball the wrong way three or four times in my career – no-one ever does it. It’s the last thing you think of – which way you’re kicking – when you’ve got set-ups, structures and craft. That day at Adelaide, it bounced straight up to Tex and it was like I had the Adelaide guernsey on again. That was the game I was tagging [Patrick] Dangerfield and I was getting booed a bit. The crowd cheered me though after that kick. I enjoyed it too. I love getting booed and cheered – it means they’re thinking about you.

MB: What’s your best joke.

BV: Probably the cat joke I told at a Melbourne function a few years’ back. You need to tell that in person though.

MB: What about one that can be printed?

BV: I’ve got a heap of little ones though.

MB: Ok. Go for it.

BV: What do you call a chicken with a bit of lettuce in its eye? Chicken caeser salad (chicken sees a salad).

MB: (Laughing). Very good. Any others?

BV: What did the piece or cheese say when he looked in the mirror? Halloumi.

MB: (Still laughing)

BV: What do you call a piece of cheese that’s not yours? Nacho cheese.

MB: (Laughing more) Keep going.

BV: How do oceans communicate? They wave.

MB: (Laughing too much) You’re on a roll!

BV: What did the bottle of sauce say to the other bottle of sauce that was lagging behind? Ketch up.

MB: (Laughing uncontrollably)

BV: Two bottles of milk are riding along on their bike and one bottle of milk kicks the other one off his bike. How dairy (how dare he).

MB: (Wiping away tears and eventually gathering some sort of composure) Fantastic stuff Bernie. Love a Dad joke. Very funny. OK, thanks for your great insights and time. Congratulations on your 200^th game. All the very best.

BV: (Big smile) Thanks Burgs.