Richmond star recruit Dion Prestia has declared himself fit for the JLT Community Series and will play in the Tigers intra-club this weekend.
The former Gold Coast midfielder has been recovering from knee surgery he underwent last year, he has not played since the Suns round 16 match against Brisbane.
The Tigers have been managing their new recruit cautiously, but Prestia is set to be unleashed in the Tigers' intra-club on Saturday.
"[The knee] is going well. I've probably been held back a little bit just because of my history, but we have an intra-club tomorrow and I'll be fully in there," Prestia told SEN on Friday.
The 24-year-old revealed in the interview that he had several clubs to choose from in the off-season trade period, including Hawthorn, Melbourne, Essendon and his eventual home Richmond.
Prestia said Melbourne were the hardest to turn down because his father was a strong Demons supporter.
"He wanted me to go to Melbourne," Prestia said.
"He was asking me 'Is Melbourne a chance? Is Melbourne a chance?' But it was just the way it panned out really. Melbourne's midfield was pretty set up already and they've got some good young players, and so does Richmond.
"We just felt that Richmond was a better fit at the time."
Prestia believes that Richmond has a strong midfield core and with an aggressive mindset, they will be able to bounce back this season.
“On their list obviously Dustin (Martin) and Trent (Cotchin) are great players, but also the midfielders who probably just don’t get a lot of notice like Anthony Miles, Shaun Grigg, Reece Conca – they’ve all had big pre-seasons,” Prestia said.
“It was there (the talent), but they probably didn’t perform as well as they would’ve liked to last year, but they’ve played finals the last three years before that.
“So, I was confident that they would be able to bounce back.
“I don’t think it will change a whole lot (our game plan)…but I feel we will be a lot more aggressive.”
The Tigers are yet to decide on their leaders for the 2017 season. Prestia revealed that as an outsider, he doesn't know why Jack Riewoldt is not in the leadership group, and that he will be voting for him.
“A little bit (surprised), I know a lot of people say he might be a sook, but he’s so competitive and just wants to win,” he said.
“I did a little bit with him in the rehab (group) when I first got there and it was just obvious he wanted to help you.
“He’s pretty intense, but he’s great to train with, I would definitely (put his name down).”
