PLUS Your club board comp is now up!
They had Gawn last week talking about the challenge of becoming one of the greatest ever melbourne teams, given what they did in the 50's they are seemingly thinking 2-3 years down the track & not thinking about the process to get there. dees have a recent history of getting ahead of themselves so they could do it again. Being the hunted is a different dynamic & not everyone copes with that.
had a few mates last year
“Not making finals has given everyone a chance to re-set and to get things right again,” he said.
Fritsch is the definition of a marshmallow. Play him tough and close and don’t allow him to cheat out the back and he won’t get a possession.
Definitely...also comes in to finish sides orff when the hard work is done by team mates...still a vg kick for goal!
The primary victim of the days of not being able to buy a flag. F them!! Campaigners!!
Never change carltooners...never change...
www.sen.com.au
I just spent the last few months watching all the games from 2019. If the Prestia and fitness staff believe he's got his fitness to level even above that, look out!
‘I feel as good as I have felt’: Prestia back in mix after Tigers change approach
The missing pieces of the Richmond puzzle are slowly falling back into place with midfielder Dion Prestia warning rumours of the death of the Tigers’ midfield are premature.www.theage.com.au
‘I feel as good as I have felt’: Prestia back in mix after Tigers change approach
By Michael Gleeson
February 6, 2022 — 2.37pm
The missing pieces of the Richmond puzzle are slowly falling back into place with midfielder Dion Prestia warning rumours of the death of the Tigers’ midfield are premature.
Prestia said he is back to full fitness and backed Jack Riewoldt’s assertion that the Richmond era is not yet over.
He believes Richmond’s midfield will be at full strength again, which should mean the fall from finals last year was an aberration and a consequence of the toll of a long time at the top.
Dion Prestia in action last year. CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES
A best and fairest winner in Richmond’s 2019 premiership year, Prestia missed almost all of last season with calf and hamstring injuries but says a new strength program has changed the way he trains, and he is now running as well as ever.
With Dustin Martin last year also out at length after he lacerated his kidney, and veterans Shane Edwards and Trent Cotchin both missing a handful of games each, Richmond’s midfield was thin and heavily reliant on Shae Bolton.
This year Martin and now Prestia are both fully fit and ready to return.
“I definitely believe we are right in the mix this year that’s for sure. Look at the midfield we have still - Dustin Martin, Shai Bolton had an amazing year, Shane Edwards, myself, Trent,” Prestia said
“I look at that midfield and think we are one of the top midfields in it still. And then we have [Ivan] Soldo coming back as well. Nank [Toby Nankervis] had to take a lot of the workload last year. Jack [Riewoldt] said the other day, ‘Do not write us off too quickly’ and I agree with him.”
Richmond’s midfield is returning to a more familiar look, with Martin and Prestia back. Edwards and Cotchin are in the twilight of their careers, but the Tigers are still looking strong behind the ball.
Dion Prestia, left, says he is better than ever. CREDIT:GETTY IMAGES
They brought in former North Melbourne veteran Robbie Tarrant as a ready to play replacement for the retired David Astbury and expect to have emerging talent Noah Balta back from injury. Josh Gibcus, a key defender taken at pick nine in last year’s draft, has impressed through the pre-season and is expected to play early in the season.
Prestia has managed only nine games in each of the last two years. Fortunately, in 2020 he returned at the right time to play the last five games of the season, including the grand final, but last year he could not get any consistency as he played catch-up on injuries and an abbreviated pre-season.
The Tigers changed their approach with Prestia, whom previously the club had assumed because of his natural muscularity that if he did too much gym work the added muscle would impair his running. In fact, they have found the opposite to be true and additional strength work has vastly improved his running.
“His nickname isn’t Meatball for nothing, he is a ball of muscle, so we tended to avoid doing too much strength work with him because he has such natural strength, but we found with him for his Achilles he needs higher doses of strength work, specific work for the Achilles and for his hamstrings that puts a lot of load into him,” elite performance manager Peter Burge said.
“When he started back in January it was really obvious his high-speed running and repeat running was at such a high level. He was running better than I have seen him in years. His running is at a very, very high level not just for him but for any AFL midfielder.”
Prestia said missing the finals meant a longer break, which has helped him get his body right.
“Not making finals has given everyone a chance to re-set and to get things right again,” he said.
“I did three solid weeks of strength work at the end of last season before the off-season, and it set me up. I was able to start running in September, I remember teams were still playing, but I was able to get back out running again. In 2021 [pre-season] it was about December before I started running.
“I feel a lot better than even in 2017 and ’18. I feel as good as I have felt. I don’t follow the stats on it too much but my GPS numbers I don’t remember getting numbers like this and being able to back up session after session.
“I am definitely not going to go into the season thinking I will rest some games. I expect to play every game and do every session. I know some people say having a session off here and there is good, but I am the opposite, I need to keep ticking over.”
A starting midfield of Dusty, Prestia and Bolton is sublime
Rance leaves Essendon.
Rance steps away from Essendon role
The former Tiger has reportedly stepped away from his role.
Just losing Gawn would be a fatal blow. He's a giant for that team.
still, wouldn't mind him in our team. and i'm guessing dimma would feel that way 2. doesn't miss when he gets his hands on it.
Who cares if he leaves Essendon? They can find someone else easily.
No doubt a fit Meatball would go along way for us back where we belong.Like most of our premiership stars he's another who is underrated by so called football experts.
Premiership material.A starting midfield of Dusty, Prestia and Bolton is sublime
