From the moment Dion Prestia returned for the start of pre-season training, those around him knew he was going to be hard to beat this summer.
In Arizona, the Gold Coaster was a driving force throughout the high altitude camp, conquering Mt. Humphrey’s and the Grand Canyon as the leading marshal for Team Attitude.
His continued improvement stretched onto the training field when the senior list returned to the Gold Coast, with Prestia progressing to the front of the group in the endurance tests, before going on to surpass Jeremy Taylor as the new time trial king.
Louder in voice and stronger in physical appearance, it came as no surprise on Wednesday morning when he was named vice captain in the six-man player leadership group.
Speaking on SEN’s Morning Glory breakfast program, Prestia said he was looking forward to developing his leadership credentials under the tutelage of Gary Ablett and Nathan Bock.
“It was a pretty happy day yesterday, pretty proud to be in the leadership group and I was really excited to get the year kicked off and work with Gaz and Bocky,” he told Morning Glory.
Marking the announcement that much more significant was the fact it was the first time in club’s short history that the leadership group had been voted for by the entire playing list.
Prestia said knowing he had the full trust and respect of the group was rewarding, and hoped he could repay his teammates with another sensational season in the midfield.
“This year we had the boys had to nominate, then the coaches took it to the board, they were happy with it, so it gives you a bit more confidence that it came from the players.”
Dogged by niggling injuries in his first two seasons on the Gold Coast, Prestia emerged as one of the club’s best players in 2013, averaging 25 disposals and four clearances a match.
He says a better understanding of managing his body was the underlying key to his breakout campaign.
“In the first few years I just really didn’t know it that well and I kept getting injured every three or four weeks.
“Last year I was monitoring my body pretty well and this pre-season I haven’t really missed a session at all.
“Now I just hope I can continue that form into the NAB Cup and also the season as well.”
