Dion Prestia has officially confirmed that he is seeking a trade away from the Gold Coast Suns, writing an open letter to Suns fans on his facebook page on Sunday afternoon.
The letter reads:
Dear Suns fans,
It’s with a heavy heart that I inform you that it is my intention to return home to Melbourne during the trade period.
My manager, Marty Pask, and I had been as transparent as possible with the club. We wanted to make sure we kept the club up to date with my thinking and finally, once I had made my decision, we declared my intent to request a trade.
As part of those discussions we agreed, that in the best interests of the Gold Coast Suns, we would keep my intention confidential until the end of the season and I thank the club for their understanding, support and confidentiality.
I really didn’t want my decision impacting the playing group and to hold up my end of the bargain I gave a commitment to see out my contract to the best of my ability.
The club has also been very clear with me and my manger that they expect an acceptable trade to be facilitated. I understand that and I also want the club that I represented with pride on 95 occasions to be compensated adequately.
I will be forever grateful to the Gold Coast Suns for not only giving me an opportunity to play AFL but to allow me to grow as a player and leader. I know I leave the club a better person than the day I walked through the door for the first time and that is a credit to everyone involved with the club.
I’ve been lucky enough to have played with, been coached by, and have worked with a large number of great people. To each and everyone one of them I want to say thanks and I wish them and the club all the very best for the future.
To you, the fans, who have been so supportive I say thank you. To be an inaugural player with the Suns is something I will forever grateful for and those memories of the club’s first ever game, our first win, our first game here on the Gold Coast and all the hard work that has been done to set up the Gold Coast Football Club is something I will never forget.
Thank you and farewell
Dion Prestia
I’m working from memory here but I think it might be the first time a player has ever asked for a trade on facebook. Welcome to the social media age, AFL fans.
It caps off a horror week for the Suns in which they have also seen Jaeger O’Meara officially request a trade, and also endured fresh rumours that David Swallow may also look to depart the club.
Although Prestia does not confirm as such in his facebook post, it’s believed that Richmond is his preferred destination, with a straight swap for the Tigers’ first round draft pick mooted as the likely exchange.
That selection will be pick No.6 overall, before any alterations are made to the order through priority picks or academy and father-son bidding.
In a brief statement on their website, the Gold Coast Suns acknowledged Prestia’s decision and confirmed they expect “an acceptable deal to be presented for a trade to be facilitated.”
Tiger Pete
Guest
If Richmond take Travis Cloke, I swear I will change teams! Cannot believe that they would consider trading out Ty Vickery, who is early 20's for a has been. When will Richmond learn, poor trade decisions such as the Yarran debacle leave us looking like the laughing stock of the AFL. No wonder we cannot attract big name players with any ilk, when we even discuss such reduculous trade deals.. Give me strength!,,
Paul D
Roar Guru
What chances a 3 way deal with O’Meara – Hawks trade some picks and then the Suns on-trade some of them for a player they want from another club? Just because the Hawks don’t have the players doesn’t mean the deal can’t get done. Clubs get pretty inventive. I can see both the Suns and the Lions looking to import talent this trade period, it seems to be the only reliable way to get players to stick at the club. Spend the draft picks you need for academy talent and then spend the rest trading for players who’ve been in the system a few years and actually want to come here.
Paul D
Roar Guru
For the sake of the Suns trading prospects they better hope like hell O’Meara doesn’t decide to go the Bombers. I agree with you re: the Hawks – the $64,000 question is can they persuade anyone there to go to the Suns, that the Suns actually want. Looking forward to the article, your insights are always excellent reading.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
As with O’Meara this was not surprising news to those of us on the GC. Player in final year of contract doesn’t sign new contract, publically states “I just want to play footy” and then waits until the team’s season is finished to declare that they want to be traded to another club. It is familiar and will continue to happen this way because it is uniquely an AFL thing. Other codes around the world (think USA or Euro soccer or even Rugby League) the player announces his move and gets on with it. I do not begrudge the moves for these guys as there is no such thing as loyalty in footy, only loyalty on the current contract with the current team. Just have a look at North Melbourne and how long-term loyalty is regarded when the Club “needs to make the tough decisions for the next 5-10 years” and you happen to be on the wrong side of 30. FWIW I do think that the Prestia move will be more straightforward than the O’Meara move. If we believe that Prestia is on the move to Richmond then the Tigers first pick in a direct swap will happen. Prestia is a good, but not great, midfielder with sketchy disposal efficiency, who does not possess pace or the ability to regularly hit the scoreboard along with spending 2 seasons basically wrecked with injury. I can’t see the Suns receiving or demanding much above that. If we believe that O’Meara to Hawthorn is happening then what currency do the Hawks actually have to make this happen? A late first round pick won’t get it done and I can’t see them sending a player like Isaac Smith or James Siciliy up to the GC (or those players actually wanting to go to the GC) to facilitate this trade. The Bombers, Blues and Saints have better capital but does O’Meara want to go to those Clubs? Saints are trending upward but Bombers and Blues still have some way to go at this stage. I have plans to pen an article re: AFL in Queensland for later this week for some extended thoughts on the state of the Elite Level of the game up here.
Slane
Guest
Patently absurd comment. It's ok for a club to treat loyal players poorly because disloyal players treat football clubs poorly. There is absolutely no logic involved in your statement.
Cat
Roar Guru
Funny how on one hand you have a contingent of fans screaming about disloyalty of clubs to long time players that are out of contract but there is barely a mumble about the continuing disloyalty shown by players who are either contracted or not qualified for free agency forcing clubs to trade them to destinations of their choice. It's a two way street, until players honor their deals why should clubs bend over backwards at the end of their careers?
AR
Guest
"I’m working from memory here but I think it might be the first time a player has ever asked for a trade on facebook. Welcome to the social media age, AFL fans." Not quite. His message said that he told the club a while ago, and all parties kept it secret. He's simply announcing his departure to fans on Facebook.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Suns are going to be doing a lot of tapping up of other clubs to see what sort of talent they can shake free this trade period. Can't see them spending all of these picks they're holding at the draft - they need to import some mature bodies, and some professionalism. They are lacking in both right now.