HE’S HAD to wait longer than a batsman stranded overnight to crack his ton, but for Lynden Dunn, reaching 100 AFL matches is a sweet moment that deserves to be acknowledged.

For Dunn, who will reach the milestone against Port Adelaide in Melbourne’s season opener at the MCG on Sunday, his now nine season career hasn’t been handed to him on a platter.

He’s had to work hard to reach his milestone and carve out a gritty AFL career, given Melbourne has played 179 matches since he arrived at the club via selection No. 15 in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft.

“It’s taken a while – that’s for sure. Everyone wants to play their first game and get through their first season, but I’ve wanted to play 100 games for this footy club for a long time,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“With [my son] Emmett too, [there is the possibility of him playing for Melbourne under the] father/son rule. It’s always nice to help him along the way, but if he doesn’t play footy, it doesn’t worry me.

“The footy club has been great to me and it’s going to be a big part of his life too, so it’ll be nice for him to one day where the red and blue.”

Dunn is now one of just seven players remaining at the club from the Neale Daniher era. He said the way the club’s changed, particularly in the past two to three years, was “unbelievable”.

“For Neeldy to come in and turn everything upside down and turn this place into an elite football club with an elite mindset – you wish you could have those first six or seven years back,” he said.

“You always think you’re doing the right thing, but there’s always something more you can do and that’s what Neeldy and the other coaches have brought along.

“I don’t regret anything, but where the footy club is at now, we’re going in the right direction and we’re certainly going up and our training is showing that. Our second half of last season, our stats are showing that.”

Dunn acknowledged that it had been difficult being involved in some frustrating seasons in recent years, but he was determined to help the team start its climb up the ladder this year.

“There has been a lot of criticism in the media lately, and we’ve been on the bottom for a long time, and I know the supporters are frustrated and it’s frustrating for the players, but we know where we’re going as a club and we’re going up,” he said.

“I’ve been around for a while now and all I want to do now is play finals for this footy club.

“Hopefully, I’ll get the chance this year, but if not, sometime soon, so we can get this club back to where it needs to be on the ladder.”

Dunn said he was content about how he felt entering 2013, adding that he was experienced enough to know what was required to perform at his best this year. 

“I usually train pretty well in pre-season and I’m a confident person … and in my ability, and the player that I am. But over time now, I’ve learnt about myself and how I play … and I just work on my strengths,” he said.

“I just know myself better – I don’t know if I’m more confident, but when you’re younger, you get nervous before games and you worry if you’re going to play well. Now that I’ve got my preparation down pat … I just know that I’m going to play well every week.

“That’s probably the biggest change for me, from the second half of last year. I’m just confident that I know that I’ve done the work. I’m not leaving anything to chance.”

Despite being one of Melbourne’s longest serving players on its 2013 list, Dunn was aiming to play out the rest of the decade in the red and blue.   

“I’m only 25 and I’ve been around for a while, but I’d like to think that I’ve got another six or seven years left in me – that’d be nice. We’ve got a lot of young guys and I think it’s important for the older boys to lead the way,” he said.

“I’ve got almost 100 games under my belt now and I need to be one of the boys who leads – even though I’m not in the leadership group. I’d love to be in the leadership group one day. I missed out this year and I was disappointed, but it’s not going to affect my mindset or the way I play or the way I go about things.

“It’s strange, because I’ve been around for a while now and I’m one of the older boys, but I still feel like I’m young inside.”

So how will Dunn feel running out in the red and blue for the 100^th time? 

“[I’m] looking forward to it, but at the same time, it’s just round one and we need to get the four points and get off to a good start to the year,” he said.

“There will probably be a little bit of a build up, but as soon as you run out through the banner, you put that aside and you just want to get the four points – that’s all I’m really worried about.”