Port Adelaide swingman Dougal Howard is happy to be involved in any trade for Orazio Fantasia
The Bombers need to get something back for Orazio Fantasia and Dougal Howard is looming as part of the package. But it isn’t the only move Essendon is making, with a Lion also on the club’s agenda.
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Port Adelaide swingman Dougal Howard is happy to be involved in any trade for Orazio Fantasia.
Fantasia signed with Adelaide-based manager Michael Doughty on Monday as speculation rages he is about to request a trade to the Power.
The 24-year-old forward will sit down with Doughty to assess his options on Wednesday before it is expected he will formally ask for a move.
It comes as Essendon emerged as a potential landing spot for Brisbane wingman Tom Cutler.
Brisbane would like to keep the long-kicking midfielder but given family health issues in Melbourne have agreed they will trade him.
Essendon has plenty of deals yet to broker but Cutler would help aid their midfield core given his skill set, hampered this year by a foot injury.
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Fantasia underwent minor knee surgery on Tuesday after earlier hip surgery.
Fantasia still has two years to run on his Bombers contract, but was linked with a move home to South Australia mid-season and has since told those close to him that he will look to move in this exchange window.
Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies put his club’s interest in Fantasia on the record on the opening day of the trade period.
“There has been a lot about our interest in Orazio Fantasia, but the reality is that’s our position across the board if a young South Australian player wants to come home, we have some interest,” Davis said.
“We will have a chat with Essendon … and we’ll get an indication of what their position is which I imagine is that he is a contracted player.
“So I think it’s way too early, suggesting one way or another we’ll wait and see how the days play out.”
Doughty is one of 16 TLA agents across Australia, with at least half of them in Melbourne.
Yet the fact Fantasia has chosen him for representation offers a subtle hint over his future.
Howard, 23, has played only 45 games for the Power but given his athletic gifts and leadership skills he is in hot demand.
He is open to a move to a Melbourne club, and if Essendon identified a clear need for him he is open-minded about that kind of switch.
Howard was told by Port Adelaide in his exit interview that they saw him playing as a key forward in 2020, but the Power also gave him permission to assess rival options.
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Essendon, North Melbourne and St Kilda are the three Victorian suitors, with Collingwood showing early interest, but not considered a realistic option any more.
The Roos would lock him away as a key defender, while St Kilda sees him as a swingman.
Essendon could throw him forward, particularly if Joe Daniher departs for Sydney, or even play him down back to release Cale Hooker into the front half.
Originally published as Port Adelaide swingman Dougal Howard is happy to be involved in any trade for Orazio Fantasia