IT WAS a performance development coach Brad Scott claimed "did us proud", but Simon Prestigiacomo was modest when asked about last week’s game on Brisbane spearhead Jonathan Brown.

Prestigiacomo kept the burly forward to only two goals in the Pies' win over the Lions, and despite the champion Lion being four years younger, two centimetres taller and seven kilos heavier, it was a battle many believe the Magpie won.

"It wasn't too bad, he kicked a couple of goals but I wasn't overly happy or overly not happy," Prestigiacomo said of the duel.

"I thought it was fairly solid, and I've had a few pretty good battles with him over the years.

"It was another good one. I think we'd be fairly even, with battles. We haven't really had ones where either of us has dominated. It's probably been averaged out.

"They've won a few more of the games, which probably puts it in his favour."

The 29-year-old Magpie said it gave him confidence when the coaching staff decided to give him the sole responsibility of minding Brown, rather than double-teaming the big Lion like other teams have opted to do this year.

"I think they might have been expecting it since Essendon did it the week before," he said.

"We were just trying to rely on our midfield and forwards to put on the pressure so they didn't really have that chance to spot him up forward as much.

"We did pretty well with the pressure and that sort of thing. A few times they were forced to try and bomb it, and go longer to a different contest. That definitely helps."

Prestigiacomo said the club was fortunate to possess such a mix of youth and experience in defence, with himself, James Clement and Shane Wakelin considered the old hands.

"We've got the young guys, who are sort of learning and they're enthusiastic, and then there is the older guys, like myself, Jimmy and Shane Wakelin," he said.

"We all get along pretty well together, which is good, and we get together for training drills.

"We're pretty close, because we all appreciate how much pressure is down there, because if your man gets a kick, he's usually having a shot at goal.

"You realise if you have to cover for someone else, and if you have to spoil … you appreciate if someone does it for you, so you try and do it for them, knowing it's such a high-pressure area. We all understand each other."

Prestigiacomo spoke of the lasting legacy he and the other two veteran defenders aim to leave at the club, and the continuing role they have taken in developing the younger backmen.

"We have to bring in a couple of key position defenders so the club isn't left with a hole if a few of us go in the next few years," he said.

"If they can come in and play a few games this year, or in the next couple of years, and not just get thrown into the deep end, they can learn the craft rather than be thrown in.

"Playing on all the gun forwards every week can be very high-pressure."

This season, his 12th on the senior list, "hasn't been too bad", but he believes he has produced "nothing too flash" in the first nine rounds.

Prestigiacomo's aim for the remainder of the season – and his career – is tied in with the future of the club. He is, however, hoping that future doesn't evolve faster than expected, as he'd like to play on for a few more years himself.

"I've been solid and I've done my job most weeks. I'm just hoping to get a solid year this year and get a few more years," he said.

"We've got a few younger guys that we're looking to develop as key backs, so hopefully I can play a bit with them and teach them a bit.

"Personally, hopefully I'll be able to get a few more years out of myself."