GWS Giants ruckman Braydon Preuss remains hopeful orange and charcoal will be the last colours he wears before eventually calling time on his career.
The 26-year-old began his career through the 2014 Rookie Draft in joining North Melbourne, where he played just eight matches in playing second-fiddle to Roos veteran Todd Goldstein for four years.
A trade to Melbourne in 2018 was a peculiar move for a ruckman hoping to break into senior team calculations, with Preuss' second stint seeing him placed in a pecking order that had superstar tall Max Gawn perched atop it.
Having managed just 10 matches in the red and blue, Preuss requested a trade to the Giants at the end of the 2020 season, with the Demons gaining Pick 31.
An injury-riddled campaign kept Preuss sidelined for the entirety of his maiden season in Sydney's west, with the Surfers Paradise product eventually making his return in Round 3 this year.
While suspensions have limited his season to date, Preuss is adamant his tenure with GWS will be one for the long haul.
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Ruckman have become an in-demand asset across the past 12 months, with taller targets the main chapter of last year's Mid-Season Draft and subsequent trade window.
The market hasn't seemed to cool its interest in ruckman this year either, with Rory Lobb, Rowan Marshall, Tim English, Luke Jackson and Goldstein all having their futures speculated.
English is tipped to re-sign with the Bulldogs, likely meaning interest from Western Australian clubs will ramp up for Jackson's signature.
Goldstein is touted to have his 16-year career at Arden street draw to a close this season, while Marshall and Lobb have been linked to Essendon and St Kilda respectively.
In Preuss' case however, the journeyman expressed his desire to remain with the Giants for as long as possible.
โYeah, I love it here, I want to stay for the long-term,โ he told AFL.com.au.
โRuckmen seem to be swapping around every year, a lot of have been successful, some haven't, but yeah, I would love the GIANTS to be my last stop because so I just love it here.โ
Preuss has averaged 36.50 hit-outs per game across his four appearances this season, ranking him second to Suns tall Jarrod Witts.
The hard-nosed Giant had always shown glimpses of what was to come, however his place behind some of the league's best ruckmen often kept his ceiling short.
Now given the role as a first-string ruckman, the Giants are reaping the rewards of Preuss' new freedom.
Reflecting on his time with the Demons - who tasted the ultimate success last September - Preuss remains hopeful the Giants can mirror Melbourne's path to a premiership.
โItโs pretty identical in terms of both clubs and how quickly it can change,โ he said.
โPersonally, it gives me a lot of hope, seeing your good mates and how well they can play to get to a flag, so I have absolutely no doubt that we can do the same thing. It gives me a lot of confidence."
Preuss and the Giants will be looking to improve on their 2-5 start to the season when they welcome Geelong to Manuka Oval on Saturday afternoon.
