So you think Prestia still has another a full injury free season of quality football in him -which would be the first time since 2019 and only the second time since he's been at Richmond?
Only a fool would think he or any other mid that is combative for that matter will go all year without injuries.
How's Hopper going or Dusty for that matter over the last 3 or 4 seasons. even Taranto has been up and down over his career.
He played 19 games in 2022, 20 in 2023. Had a horror run in 2021 and 2020 with 9 games both seasons but played every game in 2019.
13 in 2018 and 22 in 2017.
Up to this year which will knock the average around a bit he has averaged 16.7 games a year for us.
I reckon 15 or 16 games would be a good return. He may not be the player he was but he is still playing decent footy. Id take 15 games from Dion over most we have playing there.
What you want to hang onto Dow or Graham, Baker has left the building McAuliffe is still miles of it and Ross is not and has not played inside apart from maybe yr 1.
You want to just throw a pile of first year mids in from this years draft unbelievable.
Another year of Prestia is not going to hurt us it will help. Who else is there or more to the point who will even be there.
Heres our list of inside mids and mids who can play inside and out.
Martin - talk about players who are a shadow of themselves most are happy to keep Martin but want Prestia gone.
High probability Dusty wont be there next year and based on this year he shouldn't be. Hard to label him a mid nowdays Spends more time as a fwd i reckon. He has not played every game since 2017.
Bolton - boy some here are keen to see the back of him as well. There are rumours about him going as well. He spends more time as a forward anyway. He is our best small forward as well.
Graham - He may not be there next year. Would pick Prestia over him every week.
Baker - not the best of mids anyway but smart money is on him leaving. As a mid id still take Prestia when fit.
Dow - well most agree he has to go.
McAuliffe - A 19 yr old baby with lots of development needed.
Taranto - By some margin our best mid atm.
Hopper - Like Prestia is a very good player when fit. Like Prestia has fitness concerns. Maybe we should get rid of him as well or even better get rid of the lot and just start again sheesh.
Sonsie - well i think he is a bust next year will tell us.
So Martin Baker and Graham could all be at other clubs or retired. Dow a bust it doesn't leave a whole heap of ready to go mids.
While on the theme of mids would give an injury prone Prestia another season over McIntosh and Pickett both 30 plus year olds.