CTV > Shane Wakelin's Tuesday press conference

SATURDAY’S Collingwood-Hawthorn clash at the MCG is set to produce a feel-good sub-plot, with veteran defender Shane Wakelin to achieve a coveted milestone only 21 players in the history of the game have reached.

Wakelin, 33, will run out for his 239th senior game, and at first glance, one might wonder why this figure represents something significant.

It isn't until you add that number to his brother Darryl's statistic of 261 league games that you come up with something interesting. This weekend, the identical twins will rack up 500 senior games between them, making them only the ninth set of brothers to do so.

"Milestones are always things you look back on at the end of your career, and it's great for the family and all our friends who have given us a lot of support over the years," the veteran Magpie said on Tuesday.

"I suppose more than anything, it reflects our longevity in the game and the ability to persevere over a long period of time. From that point of view, it's satisfying."

The Wakelins will join elite company this Saturday, with siblings such as the Danihers, Maddens, Morwoods, Nankervis', Coventrys, Richardsons, Abletts and Shaws already qualifying for the brotherhood. 

Shane, as the current player from the family following Darryl's retirement from Port Adelaide at the end of last season, isn't about to declare which one of the Whyalla-born brothers has been the better player.

"I don't think it's for me to judge; he'll say he was, and I'll say I was," he said.

"It depends on what you base being the better player on. He's got a premiership, and that's what I'm still chasing at the moment."

With Shane receiving another opportunity this year following the unexpected retirement of fellow Collingwood backman James Clement, he left his brother to retire alone after the Power's Grand Final loss last year.

But the Pies' defender said there was no animosity between the close pair regarding his extended career, and said the support of his twin is something he continues to value highly.

"I'm purely playing for another opportunity to play in a finals series. There's definitely no jealously there; we've always supported each other throughout our entire careers," he said.

"He came across on Friday to support me for the Anzac Day game, which was fantastic, and he'll continue to do that throughout the year."

Wakelin said he is enjoying "playing a role" each week, in a season where he wasn't sure just how many games he would be selected for. 

"I don't really like to talk about myself individually, but as long as I'm contributing to the team and (coach) Mick (Malthouse) sees a role there for me this week at the moment, I'm rapt to be playing it," he said.

"From that point of view, there is a degree of satisfaction. We're six games into the year, we're three and three, and this weekend is a massive game for us.

"We've got a hell of a lot of respect for the Hawthorn Football Club and the way they've gone about their footy over the last three years under Alastair Clarkson. It's a wonderful challenge and they're the benchmark at the moment."

While the veteran backman has been in solid form over the past few rounds, he doesn't believe he'll be Mick Malthouse's first choice to tackle the enigmatic Lance 'Buddy' Franklin this weekend, even if he has tussled with the talented forward before.

"You never say never," he laughed.

"I actually played on 'Buddy' in his first year when he was a quite raw and young inexperienced lad, which was quite enjoyable.

"But, he's one of six very important players for their forward line, and as we saw from last week, Jarryd Roughead really stood up and kicked five, and we know (Mark) Williams has been a consistent goal-kicker over a long period of time.

"They've got more than one string to their bow."