THIS round, Bernie Vince will become just the 45^th player in VFL/AFL history to have notched up 100 games or more with two clubs.

After playing 129 matches with the Adelaide Crows from 2006-13, Vince will raise the bat this Sunday, when he reaches the ton against the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG.

Moreover, from that group of 45 players, Vince will become just the seventh person to have won a best and fairest with two clubs.

Vince, who won Adelaide’s club champion award (the Malcolm Blight Medal) in 2009 and Melbourne’s best and fairest (the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy) in 2015, joins VFL/AFL greats Gary Dempsey, Gary Ablett Jnr, Peter Bell, Chris Judd, Greg Williams and Tony McGuinness in that esteemed group.

It’s a remarkable achievement when pondered for a moment, but it’s something Vince will cherish post his playing days. 

“When you change clubs, it’s not the one thing you set your sights on doing,” he told Melbourne Media.

“Where the club has come from to where it is now – I’ve played a role in helping get the club to where it is.

“A lot of people say this with milestones, but they’re something that you look back on when you’re finished.”

In playing his 100^th game with Melbourne, Vince will qualify for Melbourne Cricket Club membership – something he’s looking forward to using in the future.

“I’ve never got to watch much footy at the MCG. I watched one game where I was a guest of [former Melbourne teammate and now player development manager] Shannon Byrnes. It was Geelong and Sydney in the finals last year,” he said.

“I actually sat next to ‘Smithy’ (MCC president and 1981 Melbourne best and fairest winner Steven Smith) – somehow I got the seat next to him, and I was a guest. But I got a big intro and I felt pretty special.

“’Smithy’ was in at the club the other day and said ‘g’day’. I said ‘I’m not far away from 100 games’ and ‘Lewy’ (Jordan Lewis) was sitting next to me and said ‘can you change the rules to 50 games?’. He’s a wheeler and dealer, Lewy, because he might not get to 100 games.”

In reflecting on his achievements at the Demons, Vince said he was hoping his best highlights were yet to come.

“This is probably the most promising year. Each year I’ve been here, we’ve won more games each year, so it’s been a steady incline,” he said.

“It shows improvement each year and who knows what can happen if we make the finals this year. It’s wide open and the last couple of years, the Bulldogs and Richmond have proved that. You’ve just got to be the in-form team, but anyone can knock off anyone on the day.

“Still, we’re not there yet. There is still a long way to go. But looking back, it’ll be the mates that I’ve made here – the ones I wouldn’t have ever met. Moving to Melbourne and living in Melbourne has opened-up so many opportunities for me off-field.

“They’re the things I’ll look back on and love the most. But others will probably judge you on individual things like the best and fairest. I’ll look at more the whole picture.”

Although the 32-year-old has given Adelaide and Melbourne outstanding service, he’s unsure if he’ll continue into his 14^th AFL season – and his sixth in the red and blue.

“I have conversations with ‘Goody’ (Simon Goodwin) and I had another one with him on Thursday morning,” he said.

“If I’m in the best 22, I’ll play. He just said ‘you’ve got to make the decision before anyone else can, and whether you’re up to going through another pre-season’. It’s pretty gruelling pre-season these days, but I’ll sit down and have a think about that over the next five or six weeks or however long the season goes for. Then I’ll make a decision on what’s happening.

“Fingers crossed, and touch wood, injuries haven’t played a part too much and won’t. I’ve had a couple of weird little ones, like slicing the webbing open on my hand and splitting my toe open, but I haven’t missed games.

“The only games I miss are through bloody suspension (laughing), but anyway.”

Given he has achieved his latest milestone, it begs the question: will he be remembered more as a Demon or Crow?

“It’s very even now, with 100 games at both clubs and a best and fairest at both clubs as well, so you can’t really lean one way or the other,” he said with a smile.

“If I’m in Melbourne, I’ll be going for Melbourne, and if I’m in Adelaide, I’ll be going for Adelaide. But if they’re both playing each other – I don’t know what I’ll be doing.

“I certainly have a soft spot for both. At the moment, I see myself as a Melbourne player and you don’t think of any other clubs. But long term, can I sit on the fence with that one?”

The magnificent seven

VFL/AFL players to have reached 100 games and won a best and fairest at two clubs (best and fairest years noted in the following seven players)

• Gary Dempsey (Footscray – 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977; North Melbourne – 1979)
• Gary Ablett (Geelong – 2007, 2009; Gold Coast Suns – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017)
• Peter Bell (North Melbourne – 2000; Fremantle – 2001, 2003, 2004)
• Chris Judd (West Coast Eagles – 2004, 2006; Carlton – 2008, 2009, 2010)
• Greg Williams (Geelong – 1985, Carlton – 1994)
• Bernie Vince (Adelaide Crows – 2009, Melbourne – 2015)
• Tony McGuinness (Footscray – 1987, Adelaide Crows – 1993)

VFL/AFL players to have played 100 games at more than one club

Bernie is set to become the 45th player in VFL/AFL history to play 100 games at two clubs, having previously played 129 games for the Adelaide Crows.

The full list:
Bernie Quinlan 366 games (177 Western Bulldogs, 189 Fitzroy), John Blakey 359 games (135 Fitzroy, 224 North Melbourne), Shaun Burgoyne 352 games (157 Port Adelaide, 195 Hawthorn), David Cloke 333 games (219 Richmond, 114 Collingwood), Brendon Goddard 330 games (205 St Kilda, 125 Essendon), Gary Dempsey 329 games (207 Western Bulldogs, 122 North Melbourne), Barry Round 328 games (135 Western Bulldogs, 193 Sydney Swans), Paul Salmon 324 games (224 Essendon, 100 Hawthorn), Gary Ablett 316 games (206 Geelong Cats, 110 Gold Coast Suns), Roger Merrett 313 games (149 Essendon, 164 Brisbane), Alastair Lynch 306 games (120 Fitzroy, 186 Brisbane), Paul Williams 306 games (189 Collingwood, 117 Sydney Swans), Russell Greene 304 games (120 St Kilda, 184 Hawthorn), Gavin Wanganeen 300 games (127 Essendon, 173 Port Adelaide), Eddie Betts 291 games (184 Carlton, 107 Adelaide Crows), Peter Bell 286 games (123 North Melbourne, 163 Fremantle), Lance Franklin 286 games (182 Hawthorn, 104 Sydney Swans), Heath Shaw 280 games (173 Collingwood, 107 GWS Giants), Chris Judd 279 games (134 West Coast, 145 Carlton), Darryl Wakelin 261 games (115 St Kilda, 146 Port Adelaide), Fraser Gehrig 260 games (115 West Coast, 145 St Kilda), Danyle Pearce 258 games (154 Port Adelaide, 104 Fremantle), Matthew Clarke 258 games (130 Brisbane, 118 Adelaide Crows, 10 St Kilda), Sav Rocca 257 games (156 Collingwood, 101 North Melbourne), Daniel Chick 252 games (149 Hawthorn 103 West Coast), Greg Williams 250 games (34 Geelong Cats, 107 Sydney Swans, 109 Carlton), Jeff Farmer 249 games (118 Melbourne, 131 Fremantle), Robert Scott 245 games (132 Geelong Cats, 113 North Melbourne), Paul Hudson 245 games (134 Hawthorn, 107 Western Bulldogs, four Richmond), Brad Ottens 245 games (129 Richmond, 116 Geelong Cats), Stephen Paxman 240 games (102 Fitzroy, 138 Port Adelaide), David Hale 237 games (129 North Melbourne, 108 Hawthorn), Dean Rice 234 games (116 St Kilda, 118 Carlton), Anthony Daniher 233 games (115 Sydney Swans, 118 Essendon), Michael Rischitelli 232 games (111 games Brisbane Lions, 121 games Gold Coast Suns), Nick Stevens 231 games (127 Port Adelaide, 104 Carlton), Darren Jarman 230 games (109 Hawthorn, 121 Adelaide Crows), Bernie Vince 228 games (129 Adelaide Crows, 99 Melbourne), Ian Hampshire 224 games (113 Geelong Cats, 111 Western Bulldogs), Tony McGuinness 222 games (109 Western Bulldogs, 113 Adelaide Crows), Kane Johnson 220 games (104 Adelaide Crows, 116 Richmond), Tim Pekin 219 games (107 Fitzroy, 112 St Kilda), Earl Spalding 211 games (109 Melbourne, 102 Carlton), Leigh Colbert 209 games (105 Geelong, 104 North Melbourne) and Tyson Stenglein 208 games (106 Adelaide Crows, 102 West Coast).