Melbourne defender Steven May will celebrate his 200th AFL game when he runs out against Hawthorn on Saturday.

The Gunbalanya and Larrakia man has solidified himself as one of the competition's most impactful key defenders over the past couple of seasons since joining Melbourne from the Gold Coast.

May told the Demons' official website that it was a 'surreal' feeling to reach the 200-game milestone.

"My goal as a kid in Darwin was just to play one game so I could go home and tell everyone that I played AFL," May said in an interview for melbournefc.com.au

"To be sitting here getting ready for my 200th game is pretty crazy.

"It's probably something I never thought was possible, but it has come up pretty fast in the end."

May was originally picked up by the Gold Coast Suns as a Northern Territory zone selection after a dominant junior career.

He played 123 games for the Suns and served alongside Tom Lynch as the club's co-captain for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

May said that while they were tough times, he was proud of what he achieved at the Gold Coast.

"There have definitely been a lot more downs than ups throughout my career – footy is a very hard game," he said.

"Being a part of a start-up club like the Suns is something I am really proud of. Being a captain, being an Indigenous leader and then coming down and playing for Melbourne where there is such a proud history."

Since joining the Demons, May has received back-to-back All-Australian honours and was a member of the club's drought breaking premiership winning team.

"Being part of the team to break the drought and deliver that premiership after 57 years, that still hasn't hit home yet," May said.

"The smiles and how thankful everyone is, just the magnitude of the situation – growing up in Darwin and playing for the Gold Coast, you don't really understand the hurt that Melbourne fans have felt over the past few decades."

At the beginning of the year, May signed a two-year contract extension with the Demons, keeping the 31-year-old at the club until the end of the 2025 season.

May is proud of his achievements and hopes that he can provide inspiration for other young kids from the Northern Territory.

"A couple of All-Australians and a premiership is something that I thought was so far out of reach, being from Darwin.

"So hopefully I have paved the way and it gives some kids back home a bit of belief that they can do it, it doesn't matter where you are from."