Terry Wallace says that Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia will definitely be playing for Richmond in 2017, despite the two clubs remaining in a stalemate over the terms of the trade.
The former Tigers coach says that his former club are so committed to the 24-year-old Sun that they will get the deal done no matter what, and that they will not allow a rival club to swoop in and steal him.
Prestia has already accepted a five year deal to play at Punt Road from next season, but requires a trade to move clubs due to still being a contracted Gold Coast Suns player.
Wallace thinks the only reason why the deal is taking longer than expected is due to Richmond pushing forward trade options that don’t involve their first pick in the NAB AFL National Draft, pick six.
“I think they are absolutely so committed to Dion Prestia that it will get done,” he said on SEN’s Hungry for Sport.
“My take on it is that they’ve almost got two positions. One that they sort of say OK, pick six, if we have to, it’ll be engaged and we’ll use it but if we can negotiate something else we’ll try that first and see how that goes.
“Everything I am hearing from Gold Coast, everything I’m hearing from Prestia’s camp and everything I’ve heard Richmond says it gets done. I think regardless of how it plays out and how much toing and froing, Dion Prestia will definitely be with the Tigers next year.”
Click here to view Dion Prestia's SEN Inside Football Player Ratings.
When asked on what he believes the hold-up could be if pick six has already been put on the table, Wallace believes that Richmond are seeking an exchange of picks in the middle stages of the draft to come along with Prestia.
“I would think that they would be looking for a pick back around the second round, 24 or something like that,” he said.
“Whether they have to give a third round back, that’s sort of toing and froing.”