BERNIE Vince says Melbourne’s disappointing finish to the 2016 season will spur the group over the pre-season and into 2017.

Vince said losses to Carlton and Geelong in the final two rounds – on the back of winning three in a row for the first time since 2010 – would drive the squad over the summer.

“I can’t really waste any more years because I’m getting towards the end of my time, so every year that goes by is one that I’ll never get back. We need to do it now,” he said.

“I remember when I was young, I was pretty lucky at Adelaide because we played finals in my first four years … and I remember thinking ‘we’ll just keep playing finals’ and you think it’s just going to happen.

“But then we missed a couple of years and it can change pretty quickly and the guys recognise that and it’s something we’ll chat to the young guys about.”

Vince said he was also striving to become better as a player in 2017.

“I’m getting towards the end of my career and I’m really striving to become better and coming back next season with things to improve,” he said.

“[You want to be] striving to always get better and not being comfortable with where you’re at when you’re coming towards the end of your career.

“I’ve certainly still got the hunger to play and be competitive – and I want to play finals again, so the hunger is still there. That drives me to be better and play good footy.”

Meanwhile, Vince was optimistic about Sam Weideman stepping up to the next level in 2017.

“I reckon next year might be a big year for Sammy Weideman,” he said.

“He’ll build himself up over the pre-season and off-season he’ll focus on getting big. He’s a really good runner and he moves really well and smoothly.

“I like seeing big forwards go well too.”