Richmond star to make comeback in rare VFL appearance
Richmond are hoping a conservative approach through the VFL will help premiership midfielder Dion Prestia finally overcome his tortured run with soft-tissue injuries.
Instead of returning in the Tigers' Dreamtime clash with Essendon at the MCG on Friday night, Prestia will make his comeback in Frankston when he plays two quarters against the Bombers' VFL side.
After being restricted to 13 games last year, the 32-year-old is yet to play a game this season following a hamstring injury.
But Richmond coach Adem Yze believes the club has learnt valuable lessons on how to manage their star veteran.
"There always is, with the talent he's got and the leadership he provides," Yze said of the temptation to bring Prestia straight back into the AFL.
"Last year, you could see how important he was when he came in and we probably did it the wrong way and he missed six weeks. We've got to learn from that.
"If he gets through, he'll be available the week after.
"We're playing the long game with him.
"I'm not sure the last time he's played VFL, but he's bought into that."
During Prestia's absence, the triple premiership player has taken a great interest in mentoring Tigers young guns Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie.
Rebuilding Richmond have defied grim pre-season predictions to already win three games this year.
Despite Essendon coming off a 91-point smashing to the Western Bulldogs last Saturday night, the Bombers will start as warm favourites to beat the Tigers.
Richmond will be without veteran forward Tom Lynch (concussion), star defender Noah Balta (court-imposed curfew) and former best-and-fairest winner Jayden Short (calf).
"We're going to be a really young side, on a big stage, which is an awesome opportunity," Yze said.
"I sat in the forward line meeting and it felt like I was in a creche.
"It's hard to fill Lynchy's shoes ... they've just got to share the load.
"They're young but it will be exciting."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
AFL round 13: Tigers vs Swans, Cats vs Suns, Giants vs Power live updates — blog, scores and stats
On the rebound from a heavy defeat to Adelaide, the out-of-form Sydney Swans face Richmond at the MCG. Later, Geelong hosts the Gold Coast Suns at Kardinia Park, before GWS clashes with Port Adelaide at Canberra's Manuka Oval. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
7NEWS
3 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Carlton star Harry McKay to miss more AFL action due to knee soreness
Carlton forward Harry McKay is unavailable for Sunday's blockbuster King's Birthday Eve clash against Essendon due to knee sore soreness. It will be the fourth game this season that the 27-year-old has missed with the club making the call after the captain's run on Saturday morning. McKay - who has missed games earlier this year due to personal reasons - returned to the club after the bye and trained alongside the rest of Carlton's squad last Saturday morning. But he was absent from main training earlier on Thursday. On his podcast Ben and Harry on April 10 — co-hosted by his brother and Essendon defender Ben McKay — Harry opened up on the reasons behind his period of personal leave during the year. Harry shared details about his wellbeing, saying he was 'not in a great place mentally' during the off-season. 'That progressed, then unfortunately feeling in a worse and worse spot. I felt like I had to put on a bit of a facade to pretend to be OK when I really wasn't,' he said. 'It got to a place where I had to put my hand up and say I needed some help.' Hudson O'Keeffe, 20, will now make his debut for Carlton on Sunday night in front of a crowd that could exceed 75,000. The 202cm forward-ruck was a supplementary selection period signing ahead of the 2023 season. He will be Carlton's seventh debutant this year. 'You've worked really hard,' Voss said to O'Keeffe while announcing his club debut. 'The thing we love about you the most is it's not about the kicks, marks and handballs - it's going to be about how you compete. That's your real strength - these guys will love playing with you over a long period of time, I know it. 'They're going to be talking about how you compete, how you protect people... congratulations mate, you're going to live out your dream.'
The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
‘I just can't put on socks and shoes': Dermott Brereton's crippling legacy
'To be honest with you, Tim, Essendon and our [mid-'80s] battles took you to the edge of safety, and, for me, that is always where you get the best view of life,' Brereton said. The Hawks legend explained his use of anti-inflammatory medications thus: 'Some days I double up from rancid heartburn from the endless dosages of – remember [Indocin]... Timmy, that used to rip the guts out of you, Brufen, Voltaren, all taken for over 40 years,' Brereton said. 'Some nights I sleep very little because of the arthritis in my shoulder joints. That's from decades of lifting as heavy weights as I could, purely because the position I played required it. 'Some mornings, I pathetically allow myself to become melancholy and even teary over the degeneration and the physical toll that football has taken on my body.' Brereton said he had often questioned himself on whether, given the toll on his body, if his career had been worth the price. 'I often ask myself, in that moment of true misery, when I can't move, that moment of weakness, I'll ask myself – was it worth it? 'And the answer's always the same. I'd do it all over again, exactly the same again. Maybe next time, though in the next lifetime, I might go a little harder.' Brereton told of how he had regularly been treated with epidurals at the height of his playing career. '[In the years] '86-87, '88-89, those 22-game seasons, three times a year, on average, after a game on a Saturday, on a Sunday morning I'd go to Vimy House, I'd have an epidural at 8am and lie in bed until four, then the cab would come and pick me up and take me home. And I kept doing it.' Loading Brereton had said that football had given him so much – discipline, 'A lifetime of employment, it's given me a small dose of fame, occasionally given me romance. It's given me a small amount of wealth – that's gone, I know where it went, actually. 'It has given me great friendships. It's given me my life's greatest mentor – Allan [Jeans, his Hawthorn coach]. And it has given me a purpose. 'But it's also taken away something very dear to me.' Watson's speech drew constant laughter, as when the Bomber great recounted how he left Dimboola for Melbourne, aged 15, after Essendon officials assured his mother that he would be housed by a church-going, non-drinking, non-smoking family in Niddrie. 'We went about two miles, [chairman of selectors] Teddy Fordham went to the boot, got an Esky out, each of them had a can, [and] Teddy lit up a cigar. Then, I heard [official] Kevin Egan say to the other two, 'Where's the little prick going to stay?'' Brereton's revelations about his physical struggles are in line with La Trobe University research – cited by the AFL Players' Association – that 76 per cent of past players had experienced serious injuries in football while 64 per cent of those who reported serious injuries are still affected in daily life. Since 2017, more than 1150 past V/AFL and AFLW players have been reimbursed for costs from joint surgeries and dental injuries.
