Ahead of his 250th AFL game this weekend, Richmond legend Dion Prestia reflected on his time at Punt Road, from his three premierships, Jack Dyer Medal and the opportunity of mentoring the next crop of Tigers.
Prestia was picked up by the Gold Coast Suns with the ninth overall selection in the 2011 draft, where he went on to play for six seasons.
Ahead of the 2017 season, he was traded to Richmond, making an immediate impact at the Club and becoming a key pillar of the Tigers’ dynasty.
“It's been a good one, I would say [reflecting on his career]. Obviously I started up on the Gold Coast for six years, and they were able to start my AFL career,” Prestia told Richmond Media.
“I learned a lot of life skills, and ways to become an AFL player there and then obviously the transition to Richmond has been amazing over the last 10 years.
“The three premierships are obviously a highlight, so to be playing my 250th game and [to have] lots of highs and I guess a couple of lows with injuries and things like that, but I wouldn't change a thing.”
In just his first year at the Swinburne Centre, Prestia averaged 23.2 disposals per game, quickly proving himself as one of the best in and under midfielders in the league at the time.
Prestia’s fine form that season carried into the Grand Final, where he dominated the game with 27 disposals, four marks, six tackles, seven clearances and a goal - a key contributor in securing Richmond’s first premiership in 37 years.
“It was an interesting start [to the 2017 season]. I think we were 5-0 at the start of the season and everything was all nice and rosy and everything, and then we lost our next five after that, so we were 5-5,” Prestia reflected.
“I think after the bye our team just went on a roll, and the final series was just unbelievable.
“I was living in Richmond at the time, and I just remember the town hall was just covered in Richmond colours and people painted their fences and had memorabilia and scarves and stuff all over their houses.
“So to be a part of the Richmond community while going through the '17 season, and the final series, was just amazing.”
Among Prestia’s long list of accolades, his 2019 Jack Dyer Medal stands as one of his proudest, etching his name alongside Richmond’s greats.
"I was able to play every single game that year, which I haven't done too many times in my career, but on the Jack Dyer Medal night, I remember seeing the names who had previously won it, and I guess that was kind of something I took in and was really proud of,” Prestia said.
“To see some really big names, and some stars of our footy Club, and to be a part of that, was pretty special.”
Now in his 10th year at Richmond, the 33-year-old enters a new phase of his career, with a focus on mentoring the next generation of Tigers and helping them aspire to the heights he has reached.
“It’s probably only been about the last four or five years that I've really been interested in coaching and mentoring these younger guys,” Prestia said.
“I guess the best advice I can give them is that it just doesn't happen.
“I kind of look back at the success we had and how hard we trained and how close we were, you know, everything off-field we did together, and it really showed on-field.
“My role is to set high standards and expectations, but also to give them some love when it's needed as well.
“I can be a bit of a sounding board for all these players and hopefully I can keep trying to push them on the training track while being out there as a player as well.”
