REINGING best and fairest winner Bernie Vince will notch up his 50^th match for Melbourne when he lines up against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Sunday.

Vince, who joined Melbourne at the end of the 2013 season, has been an outstanding recruit for the club.

He has missed just two matches – round one, 2015 due to a hamstring injury and round four this year because of suspension – since he donned the red and blue for the first time in round one, 2014 against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

The 30-year-old played down his achievement, but was happy to notch up the half-century.

“It’s a massive milestone – 50 games for the club and 179 for myself – that doesn’t often get talked about,” he told Melbourne TV with a smile.

“It’s something you’ll look back on after your career is finished.

“Hopefully, I’ve still got a fair few years left and we’re talking about my 100^th game with the club and hopefully a premiership.”

Vince said he was confident he could notch up the ton with Melbourne.

“The body is feeling all right and I am the oldest here, which I keep getting reminded each day,” he said.

“My nicknames are Fossil, Old Boy and Old Fella – they’re along those lines, but I do look younger than half of the group, so that does help.

“It’s good banter.”

Although a much-loved Croweater, Vince said he relished his move to Melbourne.   

“I love the footy club and I love the boys. It’s a really close group,” he said.

“Adelaide was a close group as well, but I just love that everyone gets on well and the banter is always good at all footy clubs.

“I love the city as well – I’ve loved everything. I just want to play finals now for the footy club – whether that’s this year, next year or the year after. We’re setting ourselves to be a successful club for a long time. If I can help in anyway, it’s a good thing.”

Vince said he enjoyed mentoring the young players, but added that they also “mentor me as well”.

“I just love it, because it keeps us young and it keeps us up and about – and keeps us enthused, seeing young guys come in and work at their craft. They end up playing – and playing well,” he said.

“The good position the club is in now is that guys are coming in and playing good form in the VFL. They’re not just getting games because of who they are or what they’ve done. We’ve seen that with guys coming in over the past few weeks – they’ve come in and played well.

“Guys like Billy Stretch, Christian Petracca and Viv Michie just come in and do their job. Viv Michie is one who hasn’t played for a long time, but he just comes back in and plays his role.”

Vince, who has again been a strong performer for Melbourne this year, said he was pleased with his 2016 form.

“It’s not too bad. I’m just loving the way the team is going,” he said.

“Sitting four [wins] and three [losses] is not a position we’ve been in for a long time, so there is a little bit of excitement in me at the moment. In saying that, you’ve got to take it one week at a time – the old cliché.

“There is certainly a bit of excitement about the place with some young guys coming in. They’re keeping us older guys young and it’s certainly exciting to be playing with some of those guys.”