The fearless baller-winner played with his heart on his sleeve against the Demons, providing a lively spark through the centre circle to finish behind skipper Gary Ablett as the team’s second highest possession-getter with 32-disposals for the afternoon.
But while Prestia’s was a statistical magician against Melbourne, it was his defensive efforts around the contested football that most impressed the SUNS coaching staff– with the competitive 175cm dynamo lifting his game to another level.
Prestia all but nullifying the effect dangerous Demons captain Nathan Jones had on the game.
“I was given the job on Nathan Jones, probably one of their main ball-winners, and he was always around the stoppages so that was my role on him,” said Prestia.
“I’ve played on him a few times so I knew a little bit about him.”
While Prestia re-directed praise on his game, instead congratulating his fellow midfielders, the 20-year-old did concede he would take a significant boost of confidence from his performance.
“I had a lot of the boys helping me out including Jaeger O’Meara who went in to bat for me when I came off the ground,” Prestia said.
“I just wanted to work him defensively as best as I could – it’s definitely a confidence booster though heading into the Western Bulldogs this weekend.”
It doesn’t appear to get any easier for the inaugural SUNS player, with Prestia likely to be entrusted with the tough task of restricting Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney or club stalwart Ryan Griffen – after the veteran utility proved to be a handful for the North Melbourne and finishing with a team-best 34 disposals and a goal to cap off his elite performance.
Guy McKenna’s coaching counterpart Brendan McCartney, is hopeful his boys can board the flight to the tourist capital and compete for longer against their much-improved expansion rival after failing to sustain their competitive effort against the Kangaroos.
“It’s a great opportunity for us, we’re where we are at on the ladder because of a difficult draw which we can’t control, we’ve had some injuries to some key, experienced, talented players which we can and can’t control but what we can control is how we play,” McCartney told westernbulldogs.com.au.
“We are really looking forward to the opportunity to play the way we did last week, and have at times during the year, for longer.”
But McCartney admits the GC SUNS will run out under the lights at Metricon Stadium this weekend with the edge over his developing charges, after the home-side’s impressive victories over St. Kilda, GWS Giants and the Demons at the MCG.
“We will be ok with it I think, but they have improved significantly, in all those area’s they have hardened up really well around the ball and they are hanging onto the ball a little bit better,” McCartney said.
“They are actually learning and dealing with the tempo of the game and the things that are important in building the game around - they are coming along really well.
“You have to remember they’ve still got [in] almost every line… two people who were taken early in the national draft, so we know we are playing a talented young team and we are going to have to play well to get the result.”
