VETERAN Collingwood defender Shane Wakelin is set to play his 150th match for the Magpies this weekend, but the 33-year-old still remembers what coach Mick Malthouse said to him when he first arrived at the club.

Wakelin was taken by the Magpies with pick 49 in the draft of 2000 after just four games that year for the Saints, and was struggling with an achilles injury when Collingwood opted to take a punt on him.

One of his first interactions with his new club was a get-together with the other new arrivals at the coach's place.

"I still remember the first time I came to the club, we went around to Mick's place – there was myself, Jarrod Molloy, James Clement and Brodie Holland," he said.

"And I still remember the three things that he said that night.

"One was – and we'd all come from opposition clubs – he said 'You'll be remembered as a Collingwood player on how you produce on the field over the next four to six to eight years. You'll either be remembered as a Fremantle player or a St Kilda player, or you'll be remembered as a Collingwood player'.

"That's one thing that stuck in my mind.

The two others were: 'You've got to learn how to play one-on-one footy', and 'You've got to produce in the big games'.

"And that's in September, and that's on the big occasions like the Carlton-Collingwood games, and Anzac Day games."

Wakelin said although he was almost forced out of the club a couple of years ago, he was grateful to the club for giving him the opportunity to continue playing, and proud of the way he was able to take the chance that was offered.

"Ultimately, what they gave me was an opportunity to continue to play. But it is one thing to be given the opportunity, and it is another thing to take it."