Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies is “more confident than not” that a deal to bring Orazio Fantasia to the club will be finalised before Thursday night’s trade deadline.
The Essendon small forward recently signalled his interest in heading back to his home state of South Australia, after a move at the end of 2019 failed to materialise.
Davies said the club was willing to be patient with the Bombers, who have several other deals in play, and are “hopeful” a suitable trade would be agreed to.
“I know that (Essendon list boss) Adrian Dodoro and our list manager Jason Cripps has had some good discussions throughout,” he said on SEN Drive.
“We know that Essendon have a fair bit going on, so we’ll keep trying to work with them to find a deal that suits.
“If we can’t get there, then so be it. But I guess I’m more confident than not (of getting Orazio Fantasia to the club).
“But who knows really, we have 36 hours to try make something happen. We’re hopeful, but I’m not putting my life on it fair to say.”
Davies ruled out the club trading away their future first round pick, saying their current second-round selection would have to be part of the trade.
He also explained the reason behind Port Adelaide wanting to keep multiple later selections in this year’s National Draft, with the club expecting a bid for Next-Generation Academy player Lachie Jones to come within the first 20 picks.
“Pick 29 is our best draft pick that we actually have,” he said.
“We don’t have a first round pick in this year’s draft; we have an academy prospect in Lachie Jones who is going to be bid on probably in the top 15.
“So we have got picks at the moment to pay for a bid for Lachie, so we’re just going to have to be mindful of what we’re giving up in order to do something for Orazio (Fantasia).
"Right now pick 29 is where we’re at, I’m sure there will be continuing discussions about other picks that will help get the deal done, but it certainly won’t be our future first round pick.
“We’re respectful of (Essendon’s other deals they have to get done), I’m sure they’ll get to it when the time is right.”