Port Adelaide’s GM of Football, Chris Davies, has confirmed that Orazio Fantasia has named the Power as his club of choice.
The 25-year-old, who is contracted with Essendon until 2021, wants to leave the club this trade period and his preference is to return to South Australia, with Port his number one choice.
The Adelaide Crows were also in the conversation but it is understood that Fantasia now has his sights set on Alberton.
“We believe that Port Adelaide is his club of choice if he was to leave Essendon,” Davies said on AFL Trade Radio.
“In fairness to Essendon, because I know that he’s a contracted player there, but I think he’s also had that conversation with Essendon.
“We know the situation because we’ve been in it ourselves where a player is contracted and he either wants to return to Melbourne or wants to leave our club. In that case when a player is contracted, the club that he’s at right now holds a level of power whether they think that’s going to happen or not.
“Despite the fact that Orazio has said that his preference is to come to Port Adelaide, we know realistically that doesn’t mean a great deal unless Essendon are willing to do a trade.
“That will play out through the trade period. (Essendon list boss) Adrian (Dodoro) and Jason Cripps at our end will have to do some work in order to get that done.
“Yes, he has told us that his preference is to land at Port Adelaide.”
Davies added that Fantasia did not go as far last year by stating his desire to join the Power when his name was being thrown around in trade circles.
Fantasia was restricted to just five games this season and has struggled with soft tissue injuries over the past three years, playing just 33 games in that time.
He has kicked 111 goals in 80 games for the Bombers.