MELBOURNE’Sreturn to the winners' list has coincided with a renewed enthusiasm for keydefender Ben Holland.

The big man may have started his AFL career a decade agowith Richmond,but the 184-game veteran is relishing being called upon to play on some of theleague's most potent forwards.

“It's a different sort of enjoyment now,” Holland told melbournefc.com.au, when askedif he still loves the game as much as he did when he started in 1996.

“When you're starting out, you sort of just enjoy getting agame, whereas now you just really want team success.

“It's been a tough first half of the year, and you sort offorget what it's like when you're not winning.

“Winning the last two weeks has just brought that passionand that hunger back, and you really want to keep on playing for another 10years. It's different, depending on what stage of your footy career you're at.”

Holland'scurrent “stage” involves year-to-year contracts and a role as a fill-indefender of sorts, as he's been included in the senior side only when there hasbeen a tall forward for him to curtail.

“It's been a good season, and it's been more of a match-upsthing for me this year.

“I've been in pretty good form when I have been in the side,but sometimes the opposition dictates whether you play or not,” he said.

“That makes it tough. It's frustrating, as you want to getthat consistency up and be able to play, but the good thing is we've got a goodfeeder side in Sandringham, where I can keepmy consistency going.

“Ultimately, you'd like to play every game in the seniors,and hopefully I can do that in the second half of the year.”

It's an agreement that has meant Holland hasn't played consecutive seniorgames this year, but it is one he respects.

“[Coach] Neale [Daniher] has been really honest with me, andhas told me I'm playing good footy and would be in if they had a match-up forme,” he said.

“He's happy with my form, and I'm happy with my form, andit's just a case of me getting that match-up from the opposition.”

Such a match-up loomed when the Demons met the Magpies onthe Queen's Birthday holiday nearly two weeks ago.

Daniher, having had similar success with such a move inrecent years, brought Hollandin to play specifically on Anthony Rocca.

The result? Rocca had two touches and was held scoreless.

“I had not a bad game on him last year as well, so that wasprobably about the same,” Holland said, of his round-11 performance.

“He's a really good player and is really dangerous, so itwas good to do the job as well.

“I did have a lot of help from the midfield and the otherbackline players. The team was just playing good footy, so it makes my job alot easier.”

Reaching 200 games remains a goal for the 30-year-old, buthe respects the club's position and decision it will have to make when thisseason draws to a close.

“It's definitely within my sights and I guess the club willdetermine that at the end of the year with what direction they want to go,” hesaid.

“I'd love to get it; it's a big goal of mine. If you'veplayed 200 games, you've really been around AFL circles for a while.

“I'm keen to get there, but we'll have to reassess that atthe end of the year.”

Hollandbelieves he still has plenty to offer the Demons, from an experience point ofview, and hopes the club will allow him to continue to work with its emergingdefenders.

“I still think I'm a pretty valuable player to the team, andwe've got a really young backline that needs some direction and some help.

“I've been around for a while so it's really important to havethose older players around,” he said.

“I had Benny Gale and Paul Broderick and Wayne Campbellaround when I was going through at Richmond.

“It's a harsh world, AFL footy, and when you're young, youneed those guys who have done it before around.

“It can be all too daunting sometimes, which can lead toplayers struggling a bit and going off the rails, so I think you need a mix ofexperience and youth and that makes for a good team.”