Port Adelaide have confirmed their interest in speaking to Essendon’s Orazio Fantasia should the South Australian forward seek a trade back his home state.

The 24-year-old is contracted to the Bombers until the end of 2021, but speculation that he is leaning towards switching clubs at the coming trade period continues.

“I can certainly tell you that when a young South Australian player wants to come home at any point that we’ve got an interest,” Power football boss Chris Davies told AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday.

“Orazio hasn’t necessarily suggested that is the case with him yet, but I think you can say across the board that if a young South Australian wants to come home then both us and Adelaide would generally be interested.

“It’s hard, we obviously lose young players going back to Victoria, so we’ve got to make sure that when those guys want to come home that we’re in the market.

“But I think there’s a fair bit to play out with Orazio yet.

“I haven’t spoken to him, but he’s in between managers, so I imagine once he’s settled on who he is going to go with, then we’ll be able to have a conversation with whoever his manager is.”

Port’s ruck stocks will be diminished at the trade period which starts on Monday, with Paddy Ryder keen to join St Kilda and Billy Frampton linked with a cross-town move to the Crows.

Small forward Sam Gray is also assessing interest from other clubs, but Davies doesn’t see contracted pair Sam Powell-Pepper or Dougal Howard leaving despite speculation to the contrary.

“There’s been a lot of talk throughout the year with regard to Sam, but he’s contracted and is a player who we highly value.

“Unless there’s a specific reason for him to go I’d be suggesting he’s going to be at our club into the future.”

Davies also shut down talk of contracted co-captain Ollie Wines seeking a go-home trade to Victoria.