Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia says that a premiership hangover won't be an issue at Tigerland, as the club ramps up it's preparation for season 2018.
Many pundits have feared the Tigers could replicate the Western Bulldogs' struggles following their breakthrough flag, but it's a possibility far from Prestia's mind, as his teammates enjoy a strong pre-season.
“I’m confident it won’t happen to us because coming back to the club, everyone’s running and training has been at another level,” Prestia told SEN Breakfast.
“I feel we have some really good processes in place that we will go through this year, and we have been working on them in the preseason.
“We went through it a bit last year and this year we have taken stuff to another level.
“I think we will do everything in our power to have another successful year.
“We will go through the process of the season and hopefully that is the end result.”
Prestia averaged 22.7 disposals per game in 2017, his lowest average since his second year in 2012 as a Gold Coast Sun, as well as recording his lowest tackling numbers since his debut year.
The 25-year-old has experienced a setback-free pre-season this year however, after struggling to get going early last year, and is excited by his prospects for this season.
“I’ve actually done a preseason,” Prestia said.
“Coming into the club last season, I was a bit underdone with everything I came off.
“This year has been totally different to the preseasons I have done over the past few years.
“That puts me a long way ahead from what I have done over the past few seasons.
"I probably struggled a bit coming into last year, learning how everyone plays, the way we play and everyone’s running patterns.
“I was fit enough but I just couldn’t get my head around where to run, and what my midfielders and rucks were doing.
“That 12 months will really help me a lot.”
Prestia also said that the Tigers'won't change their high-pressure style of football which took the competition by storm in 2017.
“Our pressure was everything last year and that was only the start,” Prestia said.
“We have only done that game style for 12 months, and we still have players at training that are just thinking about that pressure.”
Richmond kickoff the 2018 season against Carlton on Thursday March 22 at the MCG.
