Essendon isn’t happy with the manner in which Orazio Fantasia’s exit was publicly announced, according to Kane Cornes.
Speaking on SEN SA earlier on Monday, Adelaide football boss Adam Kelly confirmed Fantasia’s intention to leave the Bombers and relocate back home to South Australia.
The 25-year-old small forward, who remains contracted to Essendon until the end of 2021, joins Joe Daniher and Adam Saad in leaving the club.
Cornes understands that Essendon wasn't pleased with an opposition club announcing the exit of Fantasia.
“The Bombers aren’t happy with Adam Kelly’s comments from yesterday (on SEN SA),” he said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“Clubs can get a bit touchy can’t they, (I don’t understand) what the issue is from Essendon’s point of view.
“I don’t think Essendon is that happy that the Crows announced that Orazio Fantasia is leaving their club.
“At the moment, he is a contracted player at the Bombers and their thinking is it would be up to Orazio’s management and the club to release that information, not Adelaide.
“Was is it inexperience or honesty from Adam Kelly? I loved it and thought it was good transparency.
“I don’t think there’s any issue with who announces that he’s leaving but I can tell you that the Bombers aren’t too happy about the comments made on the show yesterday.”
Port Adelaide pursued Fantasia last year before he ultimately decided to stay at Essendon.
But after Fantasia met with Crows officials over the weekend, Cornes says Adelaide is now in the “box seat” to sign him.
“The Crows met with (Fantasia) on the weekend,” he said.
“It was just a chat and they just caught up, he’s a player that they’re really interested in.
“While Port Adelaide haven’t completely ruled him out, until Orazio puts his hand up and says that he wants to get to Port Adelaide, they’re not going to pursue him as hard as Adelaide (will).
“The Crows appear to be in the box seat to secure him as they have been in the last six weeks. I think there’s an opportunity for the Crows to do some momentum-building things in the off-season.”
Fantasia played just five games this season, with soft-tissue injuries keeping him on the sidelines for the majority of the year.