Richmond seems a step closer to securing the services of talented Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia after meeting with Suns’ officials on the opening day of the AFL’s 2016 trade period.

Prestia, who has played 95 games in six seasons of league football, is out of contract at Gold Coast, and has nominated Richmond as his preferred new club.

“Discussions with Gold Coast have progressed . . . The discussions have been fairly amicable and we’re confident that we’ll be able to get that done,” said Richmond’s General Manager – Football Talent, Dan Richardson. 

“It’s hard to put a time-line on these things, but we’d like to think that it doesn’t go down to the death-knock like a lot of things do . . . I wouldn’t expect it goes down to the wire.

“Gold Coast have got a bit on their plate as well with some other things, but they’re not so much related to us . . . We’ll work through that.”

At this stage, Richardson is uncertain if the Prestia trade deal will involve the No. 6 pick that Richmond currently holds in the November national draft.

“There’s been some discussion around Gold Coast and players and a few other things.  So, again, early days, but we’ll see how that pans out,” he said.