Despite missing a large chunk of the pre-season due to a persistent hamstring issue, Dion Prestia didn’t need anytime to blow out the cobwebs in Friday night’s final NAB Challenge game against the Brisbane Lions.
 
Prestia was at his leather accumulating best at Metricon Stadium, particularly in the opening stanza where he appeared to bring his own football. The ball magnet collected 12 first quarter possessions, before finishing the game with 29 touches, ten clearances and nine inside 50's.
 
After getting some valuable minutes into his legs during last weekend’s NEAFL practice match against Southport, Prestia’s return to senior football was clinical - providing the perfect launching pad to kick-start 2015.
 
“It was good having another hitout, that was my second one for the year. It was good, I didn’t cramp, I got through the game unscathed so did everyone else,” Prestia told SUNS TV following the SUNS draw with Brisbane on Friday night.
 
“It was a pretty good hitout, it was pretty hot so it was good preparation for round one.”
 
The ball magnet is confident the NAB Challenge appearance and NEAFL game are sufficient preparation for the SUNS season opener against Melbourne next Saturday afternoon.

VIDEO: Watch the highlights from Friday night's NAB Challenge draw with the Brisbane Lions
 
Prestia’s 2014 pre-season campaign mirrored this year’s version of events, and given the fact he finished third in Gold Coast’s best and fairest and averaged 27.1 possessions per outing, he is confident that he is adequately prepared for the year ahead.
 
“I’ve done that the last two years. I’ve been a little bit unlucky with injury right before the NAB Cup, so I’m pretty confident in how I’ll go (this season),” Prestia said.
 
“I found a bit of the ball tonight so I’m pretty confident for round one in two weeks.”
 
With the addition of former Hawk Mitch Hallahan and the drafting of Touk Miller, the SUNS on-ball depth is already stronger than this time last year. Coupled with the natural progression of the likes of Alex Sexton, Jesse Lonergan and Luke Russell and the midfield division at Metricon Stadium is in good shape.
 
“Good to have Mitch in there, just another big body. It will be even better when we’ve got Jaeger and ‘Gaz’ come back in the next few weeks hopefully,” Prestia said.
 
“We’ve got pretty good depth, we’ve got a lot of blokes who can roll through there. I think blokes like 'Touky' Miller and Alex Sexton will slowly get a bit more time through the midfield once they’ve played a few more games.”