Veteran Richmond star Shane Edwards has outlined the significant impact gun midfielder Dion Prestia has had within the Tigers’ line-up since joining the Club from Gold Coast via the 2016 AFL trade period.
Prestia has provided Richmond’s midfield with a major boost through his hard, two-way running, ball-winning ability, composure and creativity.
After playing an important role in the Tigers’ 2017 premiership triumph, he took his game to an even higher level last year, culminating in him winning the Best and Fairest following the team’s colossal Grand Final victory over Greater Western Sydney.
“He’s been massive for us,” Edwards said on ‘Sportsday SA’.
“We’ve had great seasons ever since he got here three years ago.
“He’s a real complete midfielder. He’s got a huge tank . . . he can cover so much ground, he can play inside and outside.
“So he can really fit with anyone else in the midfield.
“It’s not like when Dion’s in there, he’s a big body, so you need someone with fast speed in there.
“He’s really got everything . . . It’s almost like just put him in the middle and he’ll play.
“And he deals with a tagger really well, which is good for our other midfielders, like ‘Dusty’ (Dustin Martin) and ‘Cotch’ (Trent Cotchin), who might get relieved a fair bit when Dion cops a tag.”
