DION Prestia's left bicep must be worse for wear after Friday afternoon's events.

Here Prestia was, not even 15 months since his last match and 26th win from 95 games for Gold Coast, riding by motorcade in front of adoring Richmond fans ahead of Saturday's AFL Grand Final against Adelaide.

The Suns, on the other hand, are coachless after another poor on-field campaign that saw them trail off so much only the Brisbane Lions finished lower on the ladder.

You can imagine Prestia, possibly the man tasked with being The Rory Sloane Stopper as the Tigers bid to end their 37-year flag drought, is still pinching himself over and over.

"It's very exciting, and I just can't wait to get out there," he told AFL.com.au.

"I've been talking with my family and others about how far I've come in the last 12 months – and how far this club's come as well.

"It was a tough decision (to leave) … I was happy on the Gold Coast, but it was just time to get home."

The Tigers were one of four clubs, including an eager Hawthorn, that met with Prestia and his manager, Marty Pask, of i50 Management.

They won his services despite plunging from three consecutive finals appearances to 13th place last year, and with the distraction of a potential board challenge on the horizon.

There was more in it than just a bloated bank balance if the former Calder Cannons star moved to Punt Road.

Prestia, unlike Adam Treloar a year earlier, believed in Richmond's direction and was convinced the Tigers' dismal 2016 season was the exception rather than the rule.

Joining a midfield already sporting Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin, and with Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance as quality bookends, was an attractive proposition.

"I was very confident we'd play finals," he said.

"We sat down and looked at their list and were very confident they were going to be able to challenge for finals and premierships in the next couple of years – it was just an off year, I felt, in 2016.

"It's probably the biggest club in the AFL. All our fans came out to training today, and playing in front of 95,000 is definitely the reason I wanted to come back, and it's all happened this year."

Richmond's medical staff mapped out a successful plan to ease Prestia into the season and maintain his ability to perform after off-season knee surgery.

He has played 15 straight matches since a hamstring setback, a feat he managed just once in his six seasons on the Gold Coast. His form has improved the longer the year has gone.

Prestia, who turns 25 in October, is also in a good headspace, being back in familiar surrounds.

"In footy terms, it's been a lot different going from Gold Coast to Richmond," he said.

"But being able to go back and see my family and friends I grew up with every day – and whenever I wanted to – is really good and I'm really happy I came back to do that.

"It does make a difference having your family and friends just down the road, but I'm just pumped we're in this position (as a club)."