Triple-premiership midfielder Dion Prestia has confirmed to teammates that this weekend’s game against St Kilda at the MCG will be his last.

The 33-year-old has played 158 games for Richmond and 253 across his AFL career, having spent his first six seasons at Gold Coast.

Prestia said he was “super grateful and humbled” for the opportunity to represent his family and wear the yellow and black.

“I felt like a Richmond Man from the very beginning,” he said.

“My decision to come to Richmond was not to prove what I could do, but to be a part of a Club that I saw potential for greatness and didn’t we prove that right?

“This last 10-years has been everything that I ever dreamt of as a kid, kicking the footy in my front yard and imaging 90,000 fans screaming. Thank you, Tiger Army, for making this happen.

“To go there one more time and celebrate with a legend in ‘Broady’ and for Lynchy’s 250th is going to make it extra special.”

Drafted at pick No. 9 overall in the 2010 AFL Draft, Prestia was an inaugural Sun, and he played in their first-ever match in Round 2, 2011 against Carlton.

Prestia placed second to Gary Ablett Junior in the Suns' best and fairest in just his third season at AFL level and was elevated to vice-captain for his fourth.

Richmond traded pick No. 6 overall and a future second-round selection for Prestia and pick No. 24 at the conclusion of the 2016 season.

Prestia took little time to introduce himself as a star midfielder for the Tigers, finishing with 28 disposals on debut against the Blues at the MCG in Round 1 of 2017.

He would go on to play 22 games in the premiership campaign and was among the votes in the Norm Smith Medal for his 25 touches and goal on Grand Final day.

Prestia had a career-best season in 2019, playing every game, being named in the All Australian squad and winning the Jack Dyer Medal as the Tigers claimed another premiership.

The zippy midfielder averaged 27 disposals, 5.8 clearances and 4.9 tackles per game that campaign to be unanimously placed among the competition’s elite.

Prestia was outstanding in the come-from-behind preliminary final win against Geelong, amassing 28 disposals and booting two clutch goals in the second half.

The dominant midfielder was restricted to just the first five home and away games in 2020 after a syndesmosis injury and subsequent complications sidelined him until the finals series.

Prestia returned for the qualifying final and was immediately one of the Tigers’ best with a second team-high 20 touches.

He booted two goals, including the opener of the first and fourth quarters, as he became a triple premiership player in the 2020 Grand Final at the Gabba.

Prestia maintained an outstanding level of performance either side of injury troubles throughout 2021 (nine games) and returned to the Jack Dyer Medal podium placings despite missing a month of football as the Tigers played finals in 2022.

The highly productive midfielder has remained inside the top 10 of the best and fairest for the past three years even while missing 10 games in each of the past two years.

Prestia has also been credited as being an extra coach out on the field for younger players, particularly midfielders under Adem Yze in recent seasons.

Richmond Executive General Manager- Football Talent, Blair Hartley, reflected on Prestia’s stellar 16-year AFL career.

“We were delighted to bring Dion across from Gold Coast at the end of 2016 because of the consistently high level of performance we knew that he would bring through the midfield," Hartley said.

“He backed the Club and our direction in choosing to come across. For that, we will be forever grateful.

“Dion has delivered in spades across the last 10 years, and his role at our Club has been enormous on and off the field.

“He was a key part of our premiership success, as a two-way running midfielder that added an extra dimension to our team.

“He played some outstanding football in some of our biggest games. He has been a true difference maker.

"More recently, he has helped set up the next generation by imparting his football knowledge to younger teammates, all while continuing his strong form as an individual player.

“Dion will forever be a Richmond Man, and he and his family will always be welcome at the Club.”

The Tiger Army will have the opportunity to thank Prestia and his triple premiership teammate Nathan Broad this Saturday at the MCG, with the game against St Kilda starting at 12.35pm.