Port Adelaide feel they have a responsibility to Essendon’s Orazio Fantasia and will ensure they complete a trade for the wantaway forward.
Fantasia is determined to return to South Australia for the second year in a row but a deal between the Power and the Bombers is still a fair way off with just two days remaining in the AFL trade period.
Port football boss Chris Davies says the club won’t be “walking away” from trading for the 25-year-old if it becomes difficult with Essendon.
“He’s told us he wants to come to Port Adelaide. We’ve got a responsibility to try and get things done, because that’s the type of club we’ve been,” Davies told Trade Radio.
“If a player has said he wants to come then we do our best to work to get him to us, but at the same time there’s a limit and we’re not at that limit right now.
“Where things go from here will largely be in (Essendon list boss) Adrian Dodoro’s court.”
Despite Fantasia struggling with hamstring and quad injuries during the past three seasons, Port believe he will be able to get his body right again.
“Our medical guys over the last 10 years have had the least number of soft-tissue injuries in the competition,” Davies said.
“If Orazio was to come to the club then hopefully we’d be able to get him fit.”
Port are also looking to recruit versatile Sydney tall Aliir Aliir as the Power aim to build on a preliminary-final appearance this year.
Aliir toured the Power’s Alberton facilities on Monday, but is yet to officially request a trade away from the Swans.
“If he does want to come then we’ll work with Sydney in order to get something done, assuming they are willing for him to leave,” Davies said.