MATT Burgan catches up with vice-captain and key defender Lynden Dunn in the lead-up to his 150^th AFL match for Melbourne against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Sunday 

MB: Congratulations on reaching the 150-game milestone. What does it mean to you?

LD: It’s something I’ll reflect on when I finish my career and I’ll be pretty happy with. But we’ve got a game to win on the weekend against the Saints and that would be the best way to celebrate it – the four points. It’s something I’ll look back on and be pretty proud of.

MB: How do you think you’ll feel on the day?

LD: It’ll just be the same build-up. When I played my 100^th game, there were some things that I changed in the lead-up to that game, so I’ve learned from that. I’ve kept things pretty normal and it’ll be nice running out with [my four-and-a-half year-old son] Emmett, but aside from that, everything else will be pretty similar.

MB: How’s Emmett feeling about running out with his Dad?

LD: He’s pretty excited about that. That’s one of the best things about reaching the milestone – getting to run out the race with the young fella, so we’re both pretty excited about that.

MB: Reflecting on your career, what have been the highlights?

LD: Definitely singing the song in the rooms after a win is a highlight. I haven’t played finals yet, so that’s the ultimate goal and then a definitely a premiership one day. But singing the song in the rooms is definitely the highlight.

MB: You were selected in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft, but you made your AFL debut in 2006, which was also Melbourne’s most recent finals appearance. What are your memories of 2006?

LD: It was my second season at the club, but the year I made my debut. We’d played Geelong in a final in 2005 and then finals again in 2006, so watching the boys play against St Kilda in that Friday night elimination final was pretty exciting. We came from behind and it was something I wanted to be a part of – and it’s still something I want to be a part of. That’s what drives me with my training and doing all the running in pre-season and then getting banged up during the year – that’s what you play footy for.

MB: Along with Nathan Jones, Colin Garland and Mark Jamar, you are one of four remaining listed players to have played in the Neale Daniher era. What was it like for you having Neale back at the club in the lead-up to last round, given his circumstances now?

LD: He’s such an inspiring person. What he did on Monday with the ‘Big Freeze at the ‘G’ and the fundraising around it was outstanding. The person that he is – he’s taken this disease head-on, as there is no cure, so it’s something that he knows is eventually going to get him. But he wants people in the future to beat the disease and defeat ‘the beast’, as he would say. He picked me to debut for the football club and he helped me get drafted, so I’ll be forever thankful for the opportunity he’s given me. He’s definitely inspiring for not only myself and the boys, but to all the players and people at our footy club. He’s a great Melbourne Football Club person.

MB: Since 2007, it hasn’t been easy playing for Melbourne, given what the club’s gone through – on and off the field. There is now light at the end of the tunnel, but what’s it’s been like as a player since that time?

LD: I’ve been through some tough times in the years I’ve been at the footy club and I believe that pushing through those moments makes people stronger and brings out character in people. Our footy club, with the players and list we’ve got at the moment, is coming out of that [tough period]. Our good footy is really good and our poor footy still needs things to work on, so we still need to bridge the gap between our best and our worst. There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. If we keep playing the [good] footy we have been this year and do it more consistently, we’ll be playing finals sooner rather than later.

MB: You finished fourth in the club and best and fairest last year. Do you consider 2014 your best season?

LD: I think the last two or three seasons have been my most consistent seasons. I think I’ve always played some good footy [in each season]. When I first came in, I tried to learn the ropes [up forward] and then I moved in the midfield and I felt like I did a good job tagging in the midfield. Definitely the consistency in my football has come along so far now – that’s the difference in my game. Playing down back, that’s where I play my best footy.

MB: You just mentioned that defence was your best position, but you also played up forward and in the midfield earlier in your career. Do you miss playing in either of those positions?

LD: No, not really. If you had have told me that I’d end up playing in the backline when I first got drafted, I probably wouldn’t have been a big fan of that. But it’s funny how things change. I just love playing down back now. Our backline generally starts the ball movement and that’s where a lot of our attacking run comes from. You can also kick goals from the backline and you can still get to run with players, so you get to do a bit of everything and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

MB: Your long kicking has been a feature of your game. Is that an area that comes naturally to you or have you worked on it over the years?

LD: It’s something that comes naturally. I’m lucky with my body type that I’ve got a bigger trunk, bigger legs and a bigger bum, which comes with that as well. It (the bum) comes in handy at times, but at other times not so much. Playing AFL football and being on the weights program, it’s definitely helped my kicking. But kicking isn’t all about metres. You’ve got to hit targets and I’ve got a bit of an awkward kicking action, which isn’t text book.

MB: Have you refined your kicking much?

LD: [Pro scout] Kelly O’Donnell, when he was development coach, did a lot of work with me, trying to harness my kicking for more accuracy, by hitting targets and not just kicking the ball long always. I think the biggest improvement in my game has been my short kicking, but kicking the ball long does come in handy and I do enjoy kicking a torpedo and I think the crowd enjoys it too, so it’s another exciting thing for our game.

MB: This year you were appointed club vice-captain. How are you finding that role?

LD: It’s been great and it was a huge honour when I found out. It was something I was really excited about. I’ve played under some great leaders at this footy club and to be named vice-captain was a huge honour and something I’ve worked really hard on – not that it was a focus of mine or it’s ever been at the forefront of my mind. It’s the sort of thing that just comes along, but I’ve worked really hard on developing my leadership skills.

MB: Does the role feel like a natural progression for you?

LD: Now that I am one of the older players around the club, it’s my turn to step up. It doesn’t really change anything day to day or week to week at the club. I’m just driving Roosy’s (Paul Roos) message and the rest of the coaches’ message, and helping ‘Chunk’ (Nathan Jones), who has been a great skipper for our club this year and in previous years, but I’m talking more as a standalone captain. I’m just really supporting him, so I’ve really enjoyed the role.

MB: With that progression, you seem more comfortable as a leader and one of the senior members of the group now. Is that a fair to say?

LD: I think so. I remember when I got drafted and I was 17, 18, 19 or 20 years old and what it was like looking up at the older players in the team. They had some wisdom and guidance, and it could really impact you as a player, so it’s like ‘The Lion King’ and ‘The Circle of Life’ – how the winds of change come. Inevitably as you get older, you get wiser and more experienced and then it’s your turn to pass it on to the younger players. In saying that, I still learn an incredible lot from the younger players at the footy club and that’s the great thing about our game – it’s always evolving. There are different scenarios and different situations popping up, where you can learn from younger people, as well as the older players. But I definitely enjoy helping out younger players.

MB: Taking you back to November 2004. Can you remember the moment you were drafted?

LD: I was sitting at home and I had the radio on and I didn’t even think I’d get drafted because I was a bottom age player. When they read my name out, I was pretty excited and I didn’t really know what to think. It hits you in the face. One minute you’re playing TAC Cup footy and doing year 12 and then 10 seconds later you’re with guys you hope to live out your dreams with. It was definitely a moment I’ll never forget either.

MB: What was your first day at Melbourne like?

LD: My first day at the club was a training session at Sandringham and we were training down there in the pre-season. I remember rocking up there with Brock McLean, who picked me up from home. We went to the same school and both played at Calder, so he picked me up for my first day of training. I just remember being in awe of David Neitz, Adem Yze, Jeff White and Russell Robertson – these types of players. We did some lane work and I remember doing that drill, which was pretty exciting. That was the first training session.

MB: And can you reflect on your first game?

LD: I’ll never forget my first game. It was a Friday night against Geelong [in round six, 2006], where we won by a goal in the wet. I was lucky enough to kick a couple of goals and sing the song, and be a part of it. I finally found like I belonged in the AFL system. That was a highlight, making my debut.

MB: How long do you see yourself playing for in the AFL?

LD: Well, Dustin Fletcher turned 40 this year and has played 400 games, so he’s set the benchmark, so if I can get anywhere near that I will! But it’s something I don’t think about – I take it year by year. I’m in the first year of a new contract and I’m only 28 years young, although sometimes I feel a little bit older, because I’ve been around at the footy club since I was 17.

MB: Do you think you’ve hit your peak?

LD: I definitely think my best footy’s still ahead of me and there are some solid years coming up for this footy club, so I want to make sure that my form and body holds up, so that [I’m] still cutting it to play finals for the footy club, which is my ultimate goal.

MB: Well done on your achievement and all the very best for Sunday.

LD: Good on you, thanks Burgs.