It stems back to his debut against St Kilda in round four, 2000, when from his first appearance in the red and blue he commanded a position in the club's best 22.
Injury has prevented him from keeping up with another Demon debutant that year, Brad Green, who has played 170 games to Whelan's 129.
Whelan has battled his share of setbacks over the journey and since Melbourne's most recent finals win against St Kilda in 2006, the tenacious defender has played just six matches.
This included last weekend's match against North Melbourne, his first game since round eight last year after he was sidelined with ankle and shoulder problems.
In his words, a return to senior level has been a "slow process".
"I had a few games back at Sandy (Sandringham) to get some match fitness, but it was great to get back out there on the weekend," Whelan told melbournefc.com.au
"We played pretty poorly as a side, so it wasn't the best way to start again but it's good to be running around again."
The 28-year-old underwent ankle and shoulder surgery at the end of last season to prepare for his club's 150th year - his ninth - and now believes his body is better than it has been for some time.
"I've dropped a bit of weight to help carry the load on my body, so generally it's not too bad, but obviously as you get older it takes longer to recover naturally," Whelan said.
"With my ankle, I was getting injections to play and then the injections weren't doing too much and I hurt it against West Coast [in round eight last year], so it took a while to come back from that.
"I then had a few weeks off and tried to come back and then I tore a cartilage in the shoulder, so that put me out for the rest of the season."
From the sidelines, Whelan has been able to observe his team's trying times but finds it very difficult to pinpoint why the Demons have lost form.
"It's always difficult when you're losing," he said. "Everyone has got an answer, but it's always difficult when you're sitting there and watching the side.
"We're obviously going to make a lot of mistakes when we've got a young side in, but the young guys are going to be better for the run and they'll get more games under their belt."
Away from the field, Whelan - a proud Darwinian - said he felt Melbourne was now home after almost a decade in Victoria.
"My family is still back home, but I love going back to see them and a lot of my friends are still there," Whelan said. "But when I get time off and get back there, they're at work so it can be boring.
"They pop down to Melbourne every now and then, so I'm firmly entrenched in Melbourne now, having bought a house down here."
Drafted with pick 50 in the 1999 National Draft, Whelan said he was hopeful of playing at the highest level for as long as he could but is realistic about his longevity in the game.
"It's up to the coaches and the list managers," he said. "They will tell me when I'm out the door.
"I'd love to play forever but that's not going to happen … but I really want to keep playing for as long as I can.
"It'll depend what offers I get when I finish footy, as to where I go, but hopefully I'll be able to stay in Victoria somewhere and just play footy here."
