New Port Adelaide recruit Orazio Fantasia had brief talks with Adelaide, but was always leaning more towards the Power.
Fantasia wished to return home to South Australia for family reasons and the move was secured in the dying moments of the trade period, with Essendon agreeing to hand over the contracted 25-year-old.
The small forward said he did speak with the Crows, but the Norwood link at Port Adelaide to assistant coach Nathan Bassett and captain Tom Jonas was ultimately the deciding factor.
“I did have some discussions with Matthew Nicks and the Crows,” Fantasia told SEN SA Breakfast.
“They didn’t see it fitting this year and that’s fine.
“I was pretty keen to get to Port Adelaide anyway because I had the strong connection with (Nathan Bassett) and Tom Jonas there, so I felt that was a good fit regardless.”
After discussions with coach Ken Hinkley, Fantasia believes his spot in the side will free up young stars Connor Rozee and Zak Butters to play more midfield minutes.
“No half back for me, I think those days are well and truly behind me,” he said.
“From the discussions we’ve had, I’m probably playing up in that forward line and that can allow Zak Butters and Connor Rozee to get up the ground and spend a bit more time in the midfield and I can spend a bit more time forward.”