Demons veteran Vince retires

Melbourne's Bernie Vince will retire at the end of the Demons' 2018 finals campaign.

Vince, 32, has played 229 AFL games (129 with Adelaide and 100 with the Dees), winning Melbourne's 2015 best and fairest.

He also won the Crows' 2009 best and fairest.

Demons head of football Josh Mahoney thanked Vince for his services, and hopes he can remain involved with the club in some form once his playing days are done.

“He has had a significant impact for our club along this journey, which we started to rebuild back in 2013," Mahoney said.

"His impact is going to last beyond when he retires at the end of the year.

“We spoke to Bernie at the end of last year about what 2018 may look like. We asked him if he was prepared to play on, without the guarantee of a game every week, and that he may have to play some games in the VFL, and he’d be picked on form.

“He told us that he’d be prepared to do that and we’ve already seen the way he’s attacked this year – the two times that he was omitted from the side, he went to Casey with a great attitude and gave everything he had, which was true to his word.

“We have started initial discussions with Bernie about some potential roles next year at the footy club, as we don’t want him to leave or be forgotten.

"At the right times, those discussions will progress.”