Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia is reported to have “some interest” in returning to Queensland.
According to SEN’s Sam Edmund, the 30-year-old triple premiership player is believed to have spoken about his desire to finish his career up north.
Prestia, of course, left Gold Coast to join the Tigers in 2016. The news comes after three-time flag winning coach Damien Hardwick took the job at the Suns which has also linked Dustin Martin to the club.
It is understood that the Brisbane Lions are also aware of Prestia’s apparent inclination.
“There’s a lot of speculation about whether Dustin Martin would or even could join his former coach Damien Hardwick up at the Gold Coast Suns,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“But there’s also been quite a few whispers about another Tiger, maybe, being keen to move back to the Sunshine State.
“That’s Dion Prestia who left the Suns for Richmond back in 2016.
“My understanding is Prestia has privately discussed the prospect of finishing out his career up north. That feeling is something both Queensland clubs have also heard and are aware of.”
Edmund has been in touch with Prestia’s management team who seemingly poured cold water on the suggestions.
But there is a wrinkle in that Kapital Sports look after Gold Coast’s academy young guns - Jed Walter, Ethan Read and Jake Rogers - who all be drafted by the Suns this year.
That makes it even trickier if Prestia, who is contracted for 2024, did seriously want to make a shift late in his career.
“I contacted Prestia’s management yesterday. They say for their part they’re unaware of any serious desire to change clubs,” he added.
“Prestia is contracted for one more year at Richmond.
“His management company, Kapital Sports, also happen to represent the three Suns academy kids in Jed Walter, Ethan Read and Jake Rogers, who are all going to be taken at the pointy end of the draft, and therefore will require significant draft pick capital from the Suns to match those rival bids.
“So bringing in established big names like Dion Prestia and the like from rival clubs for the Gold Coast Suns is all very difficult and unlikely, even they’re even interested in going down that path. They’re going to trade their first pick though, we know that. They don’t want that to be absorbed in the academy pick up.
“But the Suns can also trade future picks and players if they are of that mind. As I said, unlikely, and cap space might also be a problem.”
Edmund is unaware why Prestia would want to return to Queensland, but does insist there is some interest.
“I don’t know the motivation for the interest, who knows what else is going on there,” Edmund said further.
“All I can tell you is that he has told people privately that he’s got some interest.
“Is that tongue-in-cheek like his management company suggests? Is it legitimate? Is it just a pipe dream that will never happen?
“But it’s certainly been doing the rounds up there (in Queensland) for a while.”
The 2019 Jack Dyer Medallist has played 20 games this season, averaging close to 22 disposals and four clearances.