2016 Player Review - # 23 Bernie Vince

[Demonland 66,676]

Missed the pre-season after a shoulder operation and returned in the early part of the season. Once he got going, he maintained a high standard for much of the year but lacked a little consistency of performance, particularly in later matches.

Games MFC 2016 21

Career Total 193 (64 MFC)

Goals MFC 2016 6

Career Total 110 (31 MFC)

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 287 votes (Seventh)

Brownlow Medal 6 votes

[DemonWA 3,579]

Continues to be an important member of the 22, and looks to have a few good seasons left in him too.

[Demon Jack 6,397]

Faded towards the end of year but I'm 99% sure he was playing injured.

Would love to see Bernie notch up 100 games for the club and I reckon he still has 2-3 years of footy left in him.

Hard to believe he's only played the three seasons here at the Demons. Feels like he's been around a lot longer

[Dee Dee 1,058]

Over the years the club has been responsible for recruiting many, many over the hill players to its ranks, the term "hacks" springs to mind. Bernie is however not one of them. I believe that Bernie Vince and Daniel Cross were inspired mature recruits to the team and were very much part of the reason for our climb from near oblivion.                                                                                                                                            Frankly I was concerned when I learnt we were getting Bernie as his reputation as a "party boy" preceded him and I wondered just what sort of influence he would have on the team. His influence has of course been very positive and he and Cross have definitely been a real positive for the whole team. I trust he plays on for a couple more years at least.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,588]

 I was rapped when the club recruited Bernie, as I had always thought he was a great player for Adelaide, perhaps also influenced by one of his games against us when he was bog.  

If he did justify his party boy reputation, he has probably adjusted his behaviour after arriving at Melbourne, instantly becoming one of the senior players and realising the good role model he had to play.  Having Roos as coach, probably curtailed any potential for bad behavior as well.  But having whitenessed his behavior at Melbourne from a far, I get the impression that Bernie is just a great knock about bloke who like to have some fun, is a character that others want to be around, but also really knows how to knuckle down to business at the appropriate time.  All in all, just a good old typical country boy.

It's clear that his on field performance wained a bit towards the end of the season, but I'm hoping that if he gets more support from a more developed younger brigade next year, then hopefully Bernie can be better managed to provide that great hardness and impact around the ball at crucial times in games.  I also think that he is better resting forward than back and really adds a greater element of unpredictablity to our forward line with his ability to kick goals from outside 50, which could help create better space inside the arc for others to work.

 

[The Chazz 4,077]

Was a "good" year by Bernie.  Played out of position for most of the year, possibly due to injury/reduced preseason.  Hopefully he can start preseason on day 1 and get back to the consistent form that he delivered in 2015.

[ickey_11 145]

Bernie (and Salem) will welcome Hibberd and Melksham next year so he can move back into the midfield. Bernie was playing back because Salem was unwell and Watts finally came on as a forward, Dunn was out of favour and thus Melb needed his kicking skills.

[stinga 478]

Yeah I agree with all the above.  Midfielders who can kick goals are like gold.  His best games were when he was allowed to go forward.  If they let him do that next season, not only will he kick goals, but also help bring guys like Petracca on.  I hope he can stick around for another 2 years.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

He won't be in the backline next season. It was a sensible move to put him there because his kicking is a weapon and he mans up well against just about anyone. For whatever reason it didn't work.

expect him to spend more time forward and rotating through the midfield next season.

[Stinga2 194]

I hope next year he can go back to going head in with the oppositions best mid. The jobs he did on the likes of Pendles, danger etc were huge. He is the best in our team at taking a player out of the game while contributing the other way. He uses his big body, great kick and hits the score board. Get him back in the middle.

[praha 10,453]

I felt that Bernie went "over the hill" this year. Really peaking in 2015 but ultimately took on too much of a burden playing down back. People understate how important Hibberd and Melksham will be to that part of the team. Would like to see Bernie play more on the wing and up forward. 

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,521]

A slightly disappointing year by Vince for reasons outlined by others.

Looked totally disinterested in the last 2 games of the year and probably played his career worst game against Geelong.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,194]

Bernie set a very, very high bar for himself following a great 2015.  Was a little disappointing this year, mainly due to him not having the 'huge' performances that he was able to create the previous year.  What I didn't love was his brain fades where opponents were able to throw him off his game; was lucky not to be suspended a couple of time this year.  Still has a lot to offer in the best 22.

[Adzman 2,085]

If his body holds up he might get another 3 seasons of footy in.

Bernie is still one of our best players, and was very useful across the backline.

I agree with posts suggesting he played hurt. He looked proppy and wasn't himself towards the end of this season.

[poita 3,723]

Bernie played his best football this year in his all too rare forays into the midfield. His form in defence was patchy at best, and downright awful at times. I would much prefer to see him split his time between the midfield and the half forward line, where he has to earn his possessions, rather than being able to get cheap kicks in the back line. He still has plenty to offer with the right role.

[steve_f 40]

Should be moved from HB due to average disposal by foot.  So would like to see him forward with spells in the middle.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Below average season with a couple of really good games. Unsuited to defence and his kicking was a real letdown.

[old55 21,777]

Bernie had a very good year again.  He was consistent early, enormous mid year against Hawthorn and Collingwood and tailed off towards the end of the year because of the massive burden he carried using himself as a battering ram which is not his bread and butter.  I see a general trend across the boards writing him off, but I think with the addition of Lewis, Hibberd and Melksham this year Bernie will be able to use his class and shine.  All hail Bernie!

[DeeZone 8,056]

Love Bernie, his youthful appearance and knock about character make him easy to like, he was really good for us until mid way through the year and trailed off in the latter stages of 2016 (thought that he had shin injury?) as his usual long accurate kicking let him down a bit. Always hard at it and hopefully will return in 2017 back to his best form. He has played head to head with some of the leagues best and held his own on most occasions. - Go Bernie!!!

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I love Bernie Vince.

Possibly my favourite ever recruit from another club.

He's an out and out midfielder. Always has been, and still is.

Hibberd, Melksham, Hunt and Wagner will allow him to return to the midfield, where he plays his best footy. There's no way he's gone from a B&F winner and on the verge of AA selection to the scrap heap in one season. He's still a very good player.

And, contrary to the views of certain posters here, Vince's disposal is generally excellent (despite a few shockers coming out of defence last season).