AFL Media journalist Marc McGowan says Orazio Fantasia's contract situation at Essendon could give them additional leverage at the negotiation table.
McGowan reported that Fantasia would like to return home to South Australia at some point with Port Adelaide his preferred destination.
The star forward signed a two-year contract extension last August that was expected to keep him at Tullamarine until at least the end of 2021.
“Absolute minimum it’s a first-round pick for Orazio at the moment, and I wouldn’t think on its own that would get the job done,” McGowan told SEN SA’s Dwayne’s World.
“If he was out of contract at the end of this year, potentially you could get him for just a first-round pick. But knowing he has two years that’s a bit of leverage Essendon has.
“It’s not certain that he is going to go at the end of this year, and I want to make that absolutely clear. It’s that he will at some point in his career go back to South Australia.”
Essendon had been notified of Fantasia’s desire to eventually leave the club prior to today’s developments.
“They have been aware of this for a while Essendon. This isn’t something that has come as a shock,” McGowan said.
“This is something that he's been thinking of for quite some time. Even at the time of signing the contract he would have known that at some point he wanted to come home.
With the Power emerging as the early frontrunners for the 23-year-old, McGowan wouldn’t rule out Adelaide making a play if he was to request a trade.
“He would absolutely consider Adelaide. My understanding at the moment is that Port Adelaide would be keener than Adelaide if that happened,” he said.
“There’s no doubt the Crows would be keeping tabs on it.
“If a guy like that suddenly becomes available and he does come out and publicly state that he’s requesting a trade from Essendon, I’d be pretty stunned if the Crows didn’t do some due diligence.”
Fantasia has booted 105 goals in 69 matches for the Bombers since taken with pick No.55 from SANFL club Norwood in the 2013 draft.
Listen to Marc McGowan's chat on SEN SA's Dwayne's Worlds in the player below