TWO YEARS ago Dion Prestia won his first premiership, and on Saturday he got to share the MCG turf as long-time mate Tom Lynch got his turn.
Since being drafted two picks apart on November 18, 2010, the pair have worn a very similar AFL path.
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They headed to expansion club Gold Coast together and were unquestionably two of the Suns' best performed players in their first six seasons.
Prestia left and returned to his home state in 2016 and won a flag with Richmond less than 12 months later.
And after agonising over his free agency decision in 2018, Lynch did likewise. And he got the same result.
"It's amazing. I can't believe I've won it," an elated Lynch said in Richmond's dressing-room following the Grand Final thumping of GWS.
"Every footballer, every kid growing up wants an AFL Grand Final. It's always a dream but you never think it's going to be a reality and I still can't believe it is."
Lynch said it was "special" to win a premiership with Prestia and was full of praise for the Tigers.
"As soon as I stepped into Richmond I just knew I'd 110 per cent made the right decision," he said.
"I love this footy club, they've taken me in and they're just unbelievable.
"I knew it was going to be great but it's above and beyond what I could have ever thought."
Speaking to AFL.com.au, Prestia was all smiles when asked about his big mate.
"The experience two years ago was unbelievable and for him to come down, and after all the hard work he's done over the pre-season and during the year, was just great reward," Prestia said.
After kicking five goals in the preliminary final win over Geelong, Lynch made another big impact in the victory over the Giants.
He took two contested marks early to set the tone and finished with 13 disposals, seven marks and two goals. He also set up another for Shai Bolton.
Coach Damien Hardwick said Lynch's ability to play every game after knee surgery destroyed his pre-season should not be under-estimated.
"If we didn't have Tom at the start of the year we wouldn't be anywhere near where we are now," Hardwick said.
"We lost Jack (Riewoldt, to injury), we lost a lot of players, but he stood up, put his hand up.
"If you had have said to me he'd play every single game this year off no pre-season I would have thought you'd be kidding me.
"He's fantastic on the field, he's an outstanding individual off the field and we're incredibly lucky to have him, and once again it's a great job to recruiting and list management."
