New Port Adelaide forward Orazio Fantasia opens up on his move to Alberton

He grew up a Crows fan but Port Adelaide recruit Orazio Fantasia has revealed why he chose Alberton and why his new home will be good for the mind.

Orazio Fantasia poses during a Port Adelaide Power AFL media opportunity at Alberton Oval on November 13, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. Picture: DANIEL KALISZ/GETTY IMAGES

Port Adelaide’s newest player Orazio Fantasia has revealed his move back home to South Australia is as much about healing his mind as it is about healing his injury-prone body.

The 25-year-old Essendon speedster was traded to the Power along with pick 73 in the final minutes of the trade period on Thursday night, with the Bombers receiving pick 29 and a future third-round selection.

Fantasia has been plagued by soft tissue injuries since 2017, playing only five games in 2020 with a calf strain in July preventing him from playing any football after Round 7.

“The big thing is being with my family,” he said. “I feel like being closer to them, will help me mentally … I already feel refreshed and I’m training better.

“This is a happy place for me.”

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Orazio Fantasia in his new colours for the first time. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

The 80-game small forward revealed that despite growing up a Crows fan, he chose Port Adelaide as his club of preference, in part, because of their record with managing injuries.

“As soon as I met with all the medical staff here you could tell they were all on the same page from the get-go and I think their injury rate is No. 1 in the league at the moment, so that’s going to play a big part for me,” he said.

“(But my) body’s really good.”

But it’s all also about the mind.

“That stress piece for me was pretty big,” he said.

“When I am stressed, I feel like I work a lot harder and push myself a bit more and that’s when I get those soft tissues or little niggles.

“So being home, I feel, will relieve that and I’m in a really good position, no surgery for now, touch wood, for the first time in probably four or five years … so I can have a pre-season which will be really good.”

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Orazio Fantasia speaks to the media after arrive at Port Adelaide in the 2020 AFL trade period. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images.

Fantasia said Port’s side was built on a “good young crew” which also appealed to him.

“What they’re building towards, I want to be a part of that,” he said.

“I feel like I can add some value to where we’re going.”

His off-field connections with fellow Norwood alumni Tom Jonas and former Norwood coach Nathan Bassett were vital to Port being his club of choice but he was looking forward to meeting more of his new teammates.

“I just want to get stuck in with the boys and show everyone that I’m fit and strong and can play,” Fantasia explained.

Port Adelaide’s general manager of football Chris Davies said he was proud the Power was becoming one of the AFL’s destination clubs.

“We haven’t gone after too many players who’ve said no,” he said.

Fantasia has played 80 games with Essendon, but wanted to come home to be closer to family and friends. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images.

“I think we’ve made a mark on the competition enough that players want to come here and that’s a reflection not only on Jason Cripps and our list management team who have shown an ability to get deals done, but the coaches and the environment that the club’s got.”

Davies said the club was pleased with its trade period, also securing Sydney defender Aliir Aliir with a future second-round pick.

“We went into the trade period wanting those two players and not necessarily wanting any of our players to go, so from that perspective it’s gone really well,” he said.