Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia has announced 2026 will be his last season at the club but that he is holding out hope it won't be the end for his playing career.
The 33-year-old's final game for the club will be the Tiger's home fixture against St Kilda at the MCG this Saturday.
Richmond broke the news via its social media on Thursday afternoon.
However, later on Thursday, Prestia spoke on SEN's The Run Home and said that while his time at Richmond has come to an end, he is hoping to keep playing somewhere else.
When it was floated the prospect of Prestia playing for former Tigers midfield coach, now GWS senior coach Adam Kingsley, the midfielder said he will have to see what his options are during the upcoming trade period.
“I don't know if it's completely a retirement,” Prestia said on SEN's The Run Home when asked about his decision to finish up at Tigerland.
“I'm still leaving the door open a little bit. I'm feeling pretty good still, body-wise and mentally.
"The thing is it's so early we are still in August. We still have until the end of October to get that sorted. I'm sure there will be plenty in the works. Hopefully, we will see what happens.
"He coached me in the midfield Adam Kingsley in 2019, so our relationship was amazing. He reminds me of my old man, sometimes he would have to give me a stare and I know I have done something wrong."
Prestia has battled through on-going injury troubles in the final few seasons of his career, but overall the beloved Tiger has played 158 games for the club since making the move from Gold Coast at the end of 2017.
Overall, Prestia has played 258 matches and kicked 78 goals since being drafted in 2010.
The tough inside midfielder played a key role in all three of the club's flags across 2017-2020 and won the Tigers' best-and-fairest award in 2019 - a premiership year.
“I felt like a Richmond man from the very beginning,” Prestia said.
“My decision to come to Richmond was not to prove what I could do, but to be a part of a club that I saw potential for greatness and didn't we prove that right?
“This last 10 years has been everything that I ever dreamt of as a kid, kicking the footy in my front yard and imaging 90,000 fans screaming. Thank you, Tiger Army, for making this happen.
“To go there one more time and celebrate with a legend in ‘Broady' and for ‘Lynchy's' 250th is going to make it extra special.”
