MELBOURNE veteran Bernie Vince is under no illusions – he must perform or there might not be a spot for him in the Demons' side in 2018.

The oldest player on Melbourne's list, 32-year-old Vince goes into this season with a one-year contract, facing possibly the final season of his 13-year, 212-game career.

Vince has had ongoing conversations with coach Simon Goodwin about where he stands, and said he was comfortable.

"Game-day performance will be a big factor in how long I play for, and that's what Goody's (Goodwin) said to me as well. He said he's not going to put any ceilings or any limits on when I finish," Vince said.

"It's basically how it is with any other player. I'll be picked on form and my contract will reflect that."

Vince said he had a strong relationship with Goodwin, whom he played with at Adelaide, and talking to his coach about his future was not something that worried him.

"I've started having that conversation over the last couple of years, to be honest, and I feel really comfortable talking to him about it," Vince said.

"I know my age plays a factor, but if you're not playing good footy and you're not in the best team then your position comes up for scrutiny."

The Demons' focus on list management (the club moved on 62 players between 2012 and 2017) and high-end draft talent has seen a greater depth develop across all lines in their squad.

Melbourne is stacked for small defenders, a position Vince will play for the majority of this season, and for the match committee, working out the best defensive setup will evolve over the year.

The Demons consider Vince and fellow veteran Jordan Lewis their 'kickers' outside defensive 50, while the more dynamic Michael Hibberd and Jayden Hunt are their 'runners' and the players who can break lines and take the game on.

Nevertheless, Vince's ability to spot up short or long targets out of defensive 50 on either foot and make sharp decisions under pressure makes him an asset for the Demons.

The former Crow missed three games through suspension last season, and has been found guilty each of the 11 times he has been charged during his career.

Vince, who will play his 84th match for Melbourne on Sunday after 129 games with Adelaide, has said in the past that he performs best when he plays on the edge, but conceded that he must find a way to better channel his aggression.

"No-one likes to miss footy through suspensions or indiscretions, because you're a waste watching on the sidelines," Vince said.

"I've just got to tidy up the little silly things … I've got a couple of things wrong."

The Melbourne-Geelong opening round clash will be named the Round for Reach, honouring the charity established jointly by Demons legend Jim Stynes.

Melbourne fans are being encouraged to donate $11 each (the number Stynes wore during his career) as the foundation looks to raise $111,000.

"It's going to be a big crowd and hopefully a big result for us," Vince said.