AFL 2023: Port Adelaide exit interviews, tough list calls
Orazio Fantasia is out of contract and played just three senior games for Port Adelaide this year. So, what was he told at his exit meeting? Here’s the latest.
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Port Adelaide small forward Orazio Fantasia says there will be “something there” for him to remain at the Power past this year.
After its straight sets finals exit to end its season, the Power began exit interviews on Monday at Alberton.
Fantasia played just three games for the Power this year in another injury-plagued season for the small forward, who is out of contract.
His future at Alberton looked to be contingent on whether he could stay injury-free in 2023, and while he didn’t break back into the team in the second half of the season Fantasia said he was confident he would remain at the Power.
“There is going to be something there, so we will work through that,” he said.
Out-of-contract ruckman Scott Lycett wasn’t as emphatic.
“Yeah we will see,” he said when asked about his future.
Wingman Xavier Duursma still has a year on his contract but has had his name thrown up as possible trade bait.
The Power have told Duursma’s manager that it has no intention of trading him.
Duursma said he wasn’t taking any notice of the speculation.
“I’m not really worried about that, it really has nothing to do with me,” he said.
“It’s just outside stuff, it hadn’t come from Port.
“I don’t really listen too much to the external stuff.”
Duursma did concede his 2023 had been below par.
“Yeah, it has been a little bit frustrating and not the way I wanted the season to finish,” he said.
Boak future still up in the air
Port Adelaide great Travis Boak says his future is still up in the air ahead of the exit interview that is set to define whether he stays on at Alberton for another year.
The Power’s AFL games record holder and former captain is out of contract at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old has had a reduced role this season, used as the tactical sub on multiple times for the Power, but did return to the 22 for Port Adelaide’s semi-final loss to GWS on Saturday night.
Boak was at Alberton on Monday, but that was for a medical.
His exit interview has been set for Tuesday.
“I just had medicals today, I haven’t had the chat yet,” he said.
“Yeah well I will go through those end of season discussions like any player, mine are tomorrow so we will go through those things.”
GET THE LATEST ON BOAK’S EXIT MEETING HERE
This masthead reported last week that the Power would be nervous about forcing out one of the club’s greatest players for fear of alienating the supporter base who were angry after reports this that there was an impasse between the player and club.
Boak conceded that he had thoughts that he had played his last game for the Power, but said he was looking forward to the upcoming conversations with the club.
“Those thoughts have sort of gone through my mind but at this stage I still have a bit to go through with those closest to me and the club and yeah those discussions will be had over the next few days,” he said.
“It will just be an open conversation, the club has been amazing for me over my whole journey and have continued to be so I’m looking forward to sitting down and having those chats and we will go from there.”
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Originally published as AFL 2023: Port Adelaide exit interviews, tough list calls
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