This time last year, Dion Prestia was announced as one of the Gold Coast SUNS' vice-captains in a clear sign of his standing amongst his peers.
 
Due to the level of player input in the leadership appointments, Prestia admits the announcement provided him with a degree of confidence.

The 22-year-old revealed he is better equipped for the role this campaign following his exposure to the position over the last twelve months.
 
“It was probably about this time last year I think that we got announced into the leadership group. It was just a bit up in the air, you don’t really know how the players see you,” Prestia told goldcoastfc.com.au.
 
“It probably gave me a lot of confidence last year that the players do see me as a bit of a leader and it’s just run on to this year.
 
“I probably just know what to expect with leadership and I can just voice my opinion whenever I need to so I am a lot more prepared this year.”
 
The ball magnet endured a frustrating start to the 2015 pre-season campaign after he suffered a hamstring strain during the early stages of the program.
 
But, following the Christmas break, Prestia returned to full training and acknowledged the reality the timing of the injury could have been far worse.
 
“It’s good it’s (happened) at this time so I could take my time with the rehab process and just getting it strong,” he said.
 
“It’s been good that it wasn’t in the year. I didn’t have to get up for any games or anything.”
 
Gary Ablett’s absence in the back half of last season was far from ideal – to state the obvious. But, one benefit from his season-ending injury was the increased exposure the SUNS' young midfielders received.
 
Instead of the two-time Brownlow medalist being trailed by an opposition stopper like a caravan, the likes of Prestia, David Swallow and Jaeger O’Meara all received a hard tag; an experience Prestia describes as educational for the young brigade of onballers coming through the ranks at Carrara.
 
“It was disappointing not having Gaz out there but it probably made the midfielders probably step up to another level.
 
“But when we get Gaz back next hopefully we keep that to the same level.
 
“It was a good learning experience for us. A couple of us got tagged when Gaz wasn’t out there, a couple of us had to step up a bit more so hopefully it leads us into another good year for the midfield.”