The impact of Dion Prestia's ongoing court case is something the Richmond Tigers aren't shying away from, according to senior coach Adem Yze.
The midfielder, along with Demons defender Steven May, were charged by Victoria Police in relation to an incident on December 27, 2024, in late October last year.
Prestia has strenuously denied any wrongdoing, and will face Frankston Magistrates Court on February 20.
The incident puts the Tigers in an unfortunately similar position to one it faced last year, where the club had to mitigate a response to veteran defender Noah Balta's assault charge.
Yze highlighted the importance of being open during the process with the playing group to avoid the situation becoming a significant distraction, and stated the club would continue to support Prestia during the ongoing case.
"No doubt [we're comfortable with Prestia's position]. We understand where that is," Yze told SEN Breakfast.
"We've got a really young list that is really influenced by those sorts of things so I was really open with the way we went about [the Noah Balta situation last year].
"Me being a senior coach, it's exactly the same thing, you understand that the spotlight is on. You're playing AFL footy and there's a lot of media around.
"If you feel like you can do what you want to do at a nightclub or walk through Chadstone and put a hoodie and hat on and hide, you're kidding yourself.
"I spoke to the boys - you might as well be going out to a pub in Richmond with your footy boots and socks on, your full kit on, because that's what it is like. You can't hide.
"We'd love to be able to but that's the life we live in. We're really clear on our expectations. If you're wearing our logo and you do anything to jeopardise that, you're going to be punished."
Balta was handed a four-match suspension, in addition to missing Richmond's 2025 pre-season games, and was required to undertake an education program and counselling following his charge.
His curfew handed down during sentencing in April forced the 26-year-old to miss several of Richmond's night fixtures, ultimately featuring at senior level just 13 times in 2025.
