RICHMOND recruit Dion Prestia will be given another run-with role, as the Tigers seek to jump back into the top four in a crucial clash against Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.
Prestia played his best game for the club last Sunday against the Brisbane Lions, keeping star midfielder Dayne Zorko to 11 possessions in an accountable role that he had asked coach Damien Hardwick to play.
The Tigers have plenty of options for Prestia against the third-placed Giants, with Hardwick confident the former Gold Coast midfielder would continue to build form through his new role in the team.
"We were really happy with his game last week against a quality player in Dayne (Zorko), so he'll get some sort of role for us this week," the coach said.
"He spoke to us and said he reckons he plays his best footy when he does have a starting point like that.
"He's a great transition runner, so his ability to cover ground is really good.
"Whether it's (Dylan) Shiel, (Callan) Ward, (Josh) Kelly, any one of those, (Tom) Scully, even (Lachie) Whitfield is in really good form at the moment."
While Prestia will play an accountable role on one of the Giants' midfield stars, teammate Dustin Martin could come under heavy attention again after his 40-possession game in round 17.
Hardwick, who was frustrated with Nick Robertson's tagging tactics last Sunday, said he hadn't felt the need to speak to the AFL about the Lion's off-the-ball methods.
"I think the message got across," the coach said.
"The rules are there to be enforced and we just ask that they be enforced and we watch those contests."
Martin, who was struck and kneed behind play, eventually lashed out at Robertson and was fined twice by the Match Review Panel, leaving him with one more chance before earning an automatic one-match suspension.
Hardwick said Martin understood the vulnerable position he was in going into finals.
"Dustin knows. Every player that plays the game knows that when they step over the line and cop a whack they've got to be careful," the coach said.
"It is tough. You ask a player to play to his absolute best and sometimes they do step over the line.
"With Dustin, we generally don't have to worry about that, so we'll just put his effort into hunting the ball and getting the ball going our way.
"All we probably ask for is ... reward the guy going for the ball and if the free kick is there the free kick is there."
The Tigers are set to take two ruckman into Sunday's clash against GWS pair Shane Mumford and Rory Lobb, with rookie big man Ivan Soldo selected as support for Tiger Toby Nankervis.
The importance of the game was not lost on Hardwick, whose team conceded five goals to one in the final quarter against the Giants to lose by three points in round nine.
"We owe them one, it would be fair to say, but we move on pretty quick," he said.
"It's an important game and sides are starting to play sides around them at the moment, so in essence they're eight point games.
"They're really important for teams to establish where they're at and we're no different.
"Either side wins and it gives them a little bit of breathing space."
