In the week of his becoming the fifth-youngest player to make 300 VFL/AFL regular-season appearances, Adelaide's Ben Hart marvels at the way the game has changed, particularly the speed of it, since his debut in 1992.

But, for the players' sake, he does not necessarily want to see it get any quicker.

"You have seen this year in the NAB Cup and round one, the pace is electrifying," Hart said.

"You don't get a lot of chance to rest. Because of that, a lot of the players have had to change in their fitness levels, and the clubs are choosing the body types.

"You don't see many of those big, huge guys who park themselves at centre half-forward or full-forward any more. Guys have to be of similar physiques and fitness levels.

"It's a running game. It's hard to say whether it's a better game. As a spectacle, it probably is because of the pace of it. It's a hard-work game at the moment. In the old days, you had more resting time.

"I like the way the game has gone. Obviously there are a lot of tactics in regard to the flooding, but they have been around for years. It is just highlighted more because of the media scrutiny."

Hart said he felt Australian football had 'reached its maximum speed'.

"The only way they can quicken it up is by bringing the ball in from the boundary line from whoever touched it last, but I don't want to give the AFL any ideas," he said.

"It has reached its maximum speed. It's not a rule that I would like to see … that would make it too quick. I played in the International Rules games (against Ireland) where it happened, and you don't get any respite.

"Even now, they throw the ball in quicker as well, and kick out quicker. You need a bit of time to set up. Teams need a break. It's a pretty tough game and it's a long game. It's demanding. I can understand why they are trying to make it quicker in certain parts, but, at the same time, you have to have some respite, otherwise you will have people breaking down.

"If they had the rules they have now at the start of my career, maybe I would be still playing, not having a lot of body weight to carry around, and being a bit slighter, but maybe not. One of the biggest things in footy these days is recovery, not just on game day, but after games. It could shorten careers."

Hart said it was 'a great honour' to be the first player to play 300 AFL matches for the Crows, and he said football had made him a 'better person'.

"It has taught me a lot about life," he said. "Being involved in the system so long has taught me the value of friendship and respect, especially in this club - no one is better than anyone else.

"Football keeps you modest. A lot of people would think the other way, that you would get carried away playing AFL, but I think it brings you back down to earth. You play on the weekend but you are under scrutiny so much, and it's more these days. You have to stay modest and in control. It's not a perfect world out there.

"A lot of people see footballers playing a game and celebrating goals and having a beer after the game. They don't understand the amount they have to put their body and their mind through, and the amount of hours you have to spend to get that opportunity to play. They see the glory, but not the hard work it takes."

On his playing future, Hart said: "As long as the desire is there, the want is there, I will keep going until I break down or they ask me to leave."

And life after football?

"Property development … (and) the older you get and the more games you play, you become keen on the coaching side of things," he said. "I don't know whether I could become a head coach, but certainly an assistant role or something along that line is appealing.

"You never know, the media … some people might be interested. There are also opportunities through the AFL to do small-business management study."

Defender Hart, a dual premiership player (1997-98), twice Adelaide's club champion (1999 and 2002) and a four-time All-Australian (1992, 1993, 1999 and 2002), will be aged 31 years and 254 days when he plays against West Coast at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

The only four players to reach 300 games at a younger age were Essendon's Simon Madden (30 years, 233 days), St Kilda's and Hawthorn's Russell Greene (31, 76), St Kilda's Nathan Burke (31, 102) and the Brisbane Lions' Marcus Ashcroft (31, 228).