UNCONTRACTED Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia has nominated Richmond as his preferred club for 2017 and beyond.

Other clubs which had been bidding for Prestia learnt this week they had failed and that the Tigers had won the race.

It is believed Hawthorn was the under bidder.

Gold Coast has known for the past fortnight the 23-year-old would not be continuing his six-year tenure at the club beyond this season.

Based on current ladder positions, Richmond's first-round pick would be No.6, which the Suns will use as a starting point for negotiations.

Prestia averaged just under 26 disposals 14 games this year before a knee injury in round 16 ended his season early.



Earlier on Thursday Suns coach Rodney Eade conceded Prestia was likely to leave the club at the end of the season.

Eade said Prestia had indicated a desire to return to Victoria, where his family is based.

"All the noise is that looks like it's going to happen," Eade said.

"But if that happens, that's fine, we'll just drive a hard bargain to be able to get compensation for him.

"We've spoken to him, he's sort of indicated family's a strong point - I suppose like (Patrick) Dangerfield when he went back to Geelong, that's a strong driver for him."