Why Dion Prestia chose to continue his career at Richmond

AS Dion Prestia narrowed his sights on a return to Melbourne last year, change looked afoot at Richmond. But a couple of men ensured the former Sun got to the Tigers.

Josh Caddy and great mate Dion Prestia. Picture: Getty Images

DION Prestia chose to continue his career at Richmond because of the club’s cool leadership as a rival ticket threatened to overthrow president Peggy O’Neal’s board.

Prestia, 24, met chief executive Brendon Gale and football boss Dan Richardson last year before the contested midfielder inked a five-year contract.

Prestia’s camp also completed an independent list analysis — which countered the popular belief that Richmond’s slide down the ladder would continue.

The former Gold Coast ball winner collected 31 disposals, five clearances and six tackles as Richmond won its first final in 16 years on Friday night.

After a turbulent 2016, the Tigers also struck deals for Josh Caddy (Geelong) and Toby Nankervis (Sydney) to help catapult the club into premiership mode.

Dion Prestia played a big part in the Tigers’ win over Geelong. Picture: Mark Stewart

“A lot of credit needs to go to Dan Richardson,” Prestia’s manager, Marty Pask, said.

“There was a lot of talk at the time, which was probably unhelpful for Richmond, with the board challenge.

“That challenge could’ve potentially prevented that player, or any player, going to a club.

“So full credit to Dan and Brendon Gale, who worked really hard to alleviate a lot of that concern.”

Pask and Prestia wanted to know which coaches and board members were likely to be appointed.

“I can remember being told quite categorically that everyone’s fine and they’d back their people. That was good enough for us, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Pask told Suns list manager Scott Clayton at about Round 12 last year that Prestia was a chance to return to Melbourne and then indicated at about Round 18 or 19 he was likely to elect Richmond.

Prestia’s season ended with a knee injury in Round 16, allowing him to return home and plot his future.

“We felt it was appropriate to the Gold Coast Suns that they were notified what Dion’s intentions were,” Pask said.

“That’s fair to them because they need to plan appropriately, and the last thing Dion wants is to leave Gold Coast in an uncomfortable decision.”

Dion Prestia in action for the Suns last year — battling against new teammate Dylan Grimes. Picture: Colleen Petch

Prestia met with four clubs but decided his talents would be best harboured at Punt Rd.

The previous year, Richmond missed out on Adam Treloar because he believed Collingwood was closer to a flag.

“Alex Rance, 27, was contracted (until 2019), Trent Cotchin, 27, was contracted (until 2019), Jack Riewoldt, 28, was contracted (until 2018) and Dustin Martin (is now contracted until (2024),” Pask said.

“If he was going to sign a long-term deal with a footy club, he was going to be signing it with a core group of players that were going to be in similar time frames.

“It’s probably a three-year window where they’re going to be playing together, and that’s 70 per cent of his time in this (five-year) contract.”

Pask details Prestia’s journey as part of The Agents documentary, which screens on Fox Footy at 9pm tonight.