MELBOURNE greats Adem Yze and Jeff White will leave the club at season's end, but both are eager to continue their careers at rival AFL clubs.

The duo will play their final games for Melbourne against Richmond on Sunday at the MCG and then hope to continue their AFL careers elsewhere in 2009.

Yze will play his 271st AFL match for Melbourne to sit third on the club's all-time games record – one fewer than Robbie Flower (272) and behind leader David Neitz (306). Yet he will become an AFL life member this round, because it will be his 300th AFL appearance.

White will move into seventh spot on Melbourne's games record this weekend, with 236 matches, overtaking Brett Lovett (235). 

Yze said the club had been "awesome" to him over the journey and although he concedes he has little chance of being picked up, he is adamant his mind and body are still capable of cutting it at the highest level.

"I've given everything I've got, but I might have a little bit more to offer if there are any other clubs out there, but I'm going to nominate for the draft and there's probably only half a per cent chance of being picked up," Yze said.

"But I'll play footy somewhere next year, whether it's in the VFL or at another level and continue that way.

"I really enjoy the development side of the game, so I want to be able to help the younger players in whatever club I go to."

White said from a personal point of view he still feels he has some time left in the game and is definitely putting his hand up to play on.

"It certainly is a sad time and it's been a great journey being involved with the red and blue. The Melbourne Football Club has been great to me. To play with such a wonderful club is such an honour," White said.

"I realise the footy club has a youth policy and we both totally understand that, but for me personally, I'd like to continue playing in the AFL next year.

"I'm certainly going to put my hat in the ring and if that happens, it happens, and if it doesn't, I'll certainly look back and be grateful I've put everything in to playing football at the highest level.

"I've got everything out of it and I've got everything out of my body, so I can walk away with my head held high."

Yze said he was thankful for the opportunity to play in the last round after battling a knee complaint to be ready.

"I probably shouldn't have played. I needed an injection to play and Jimmy [Stynes] came to me during the week to say: 'You need two more games to reach AFL life membership'," Yze said.

"To be a life member of the AFL is something I can be really proud of as well."

Reflecting on his 226-game consecutive streak – second only to Melbourne president Jim Stynes as the greatest run in AFL history – Yze said the focus became tough towards the end.

"Whether it was media or other people questioning your attack on the footy or whether you're putting your body on the line for a record – that actually didn't sit well with me," Yze said.

"So I had a meeting with Neale [Daniher] last year … and said: 'I don't want to play', to end that speculation. From there, it felt like a release and I could just enjoy my footy."

White said his body was also capable of playing on next year, after overcoming a serious shin injury, which almost ended his career early in the decade.

"I remember the [Melbourne] doctor [Andrew Daff] telling me in 2003: 'If you split this open again, your career is basically over'," White said.