ORAZIO Fantasia is officially a Port Adelaide player after the club was able to complete a trade with Essendon on the last day of the AFL trade period.

Fantasia arrives at Alberton on an initial three-year deal after a trade which sees Port Adelaide’s pick 29 and a future third-round selection traded to the Bombers and pick 73 come back the other way.

The 25-year-old was born and raised in South Australia and was part of the 2013 Norwood SANFL premiership side coached by current Port Adelaide forwards coach Nathan Bassett.

The 80-game 111-goal forward had a year left on his contract with the Bombers but sought a move to Port Adelaide to be closer to family.

General Manager – Football, Chris Davies said he was pleased to be able to complete the trade.

“Orazio is a player that we think will make our side better,” he said.

“We know his speed, skill and goal sense will add to our forward mix, and his availability in the front half will allow us to give more midfield minutes to some of our younger players like Zak Butters and Connor Rozee.

“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.”

Originally taken with pick 55 in the 2013 AFL National Draft, Fantasia made his AFL debut in Round 20, 2014.

He averaged 27 goals a season in the four years between 2016 and 2019, including 39 goals in 20 games in 2017, before injury limited him to just five games in 2020.

Fantasia won two AFL Rising Star nominations and has several other accolades during his time with the Bombers including two best clubman awards and a most improved player award.