Port forward gets AFL lifeline at third club with bold move back to Victoria

Port Adelaide forward Orazio Fantasia is heading back to Victoria after reportedly signing a two-year deal at Carlton.

Seven News journalist Mitch Cleary revealed Fantasia will reunite with his former Power assistant coach in Michael Voss as he attempts to kickstart his stalled AFL career.

“Orazio Fantasia will join the Blues on a two-year deal,” Cleary said on Friday night.

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“The Blues see significant upside for a small forward who has just turned 28 and once kicked 39 goals in a season at Essendon.

“He’ll move as a delisted free agent.”

It’s a surprising turn for Fantasia who was reportedly offered a one-year deal to stay at the Power before he underwent a medical at GWS earlier this month.

But the Giants’ deal was believed to be just for a rookie contract.

Fantasia has played 99 AFL games since making his debut for the Bombers back in 2014.

But he managed just 19 games in his three seasons for the Power – after the club coughed up pick 29 and a future third round selection for him back in 2020.

At the time, Port Adelaide were confident the club could keep Fantasia fit.

“He has had some injury issues in recent years, but we back our medical and high-performance teams to get him back to full fitness and playing some strong, Port Adelaide football over the coming years,” footy boss Chris Davies said back when the deal was done.

But unfortunately for both the Power and Fantasia, injury has restricted him to just four games in the past two years.

The Blues’ deal means Fantasia will arrive at his third AFL club.

That leaves just ruck duo Scott Lycett and Sam Hayes as the only players on the Power’s list without a deal for 2024.

Lycett is reportedly weighing up retirement after the Power turned to Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet this trade period to shore up their ruck stocks.

“He has had a few medicals over the last 10 days and he is fully fit and ready to go, but it’s just been a tiring year for him,” Lycett’s manager Colin Young said on AFL Trade Radio this month.

“So he’s going to have a few days to think about whether he will take a few offers up next week or he will retire.”