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AAP
AAP
Anna Harrington

Key Tigers feeling refreshed under new coach Yze

Players say new coach Adem Yze has delivered a breath of fresh air at Punt Road. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Richmond guns Dion Prestia and Liam Baker say coach Adem Yze has delivered a breath of fresh air at Punt Road as they enter the last seasons of their respective contracts.

Yze's appointment, after Damien Hardwick ran the show for nearly 14 years, has meant a change in game style and approach.

Prestia joked there was more fun to it all.

"We had three skill sessions this year instead of having two last year, so we kind of hope that we see the benefit of that," he said ahead of Saturday's season opener against Gold Coast.

Richmond's Dion Prestia
Richmond's Dion Prestia can't wait to kick off the AFL season under new coach Adem Yze. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

"But really, mostly it's pretty similar. Little tweaks in the words that we use and certain things, but it's pretty similar. 

"Maybe a bit more attacking than defensive. 'Dimma' was pretty boring and defensive, so hopefully we can win 150-130 most games."

Baker added: "It's honestly pretty similar.

"It's just a new voice, which gives us a new spring in our step, really."

Prestia was lured to Richmond in 2016 by Damien Hardwick and his team, while Baker, 26, spent almost his entire career under the new Gold Coast coach.

"He (Yze) is a lot younger than Dimma, so maybe he can relate to us a bit more. He's just a bit of a fresh start," Prestia said.

"I was under Dimma for eight years, and some of the players like Grimesy (Dylan Grimes) and Dusty (Martin) were under him for like 14, 15 years. 

"So just having that fresh way to move the ball a little bit differently - like it's similar, but it's a little bit different - I guess it's exciting when you have something new or a new game plan or a new stoppage set-up. 

"It's just something new that gets you a bit excited because for so long, for seven years, our game plan worked so well that we kind of stuck with it the whole way. 

"So I guess that's the exciting part about bringing 'Ooze' in.

Liam Baker (right)
Richmond vice-captain Liam Baker (right) tackles teammate Dustin Martin at training. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Newly appointed vice-captain Baker will be in hot demand as a free agent later in the year.

"My deal with my manager is we get stuck into the year, I hold up my end trying to play some good footy, and then he'll hold up his end  and try and work with the club later on in the year," Baker said.

"That's the plan at the moment. 

"New changes, a lot of unknown for myself and the whole group really, so I won't really know too much more until later in the season or a few weeks down the track."

Prestia, 31, said he hoped to get a new contract sorted sooner rather than later. 

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