ADELAIDE has confirmed contracted Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia wants to return to South Australia.
Now it's down to the Crows to lobby with crosstown rivals Port Adelaide to win his services.
As revealed by AFL.com.au last month, Fantasia has undergone independent medical testing to allay fears for both SA clubs over the state of his body.
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It comes after Adam Saad (Carlton) and Joe Daniher (Brisbane) last week requested moves away from the Bombers.
After backflipping on a move to Port Adelaide last Trade Period with two years left his contract, Fantasia managed just five games this season due to a range of soft tissue setbacks.
Now with one year remaining on his Essendon deal, Fantasia is a player of interest to both clubs who would need to facilitate a trade with the Bombers to secure him.
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"We understand he wants to come back to South Australia," Crows head of football Adam Kelly told SENSA on Monday morning.
"Any player who's gone interstate who wants to return home, we're keen to talk to and understand what their motivations are.
"We're just not sure where that one will lie and how that will play out, but we're always keen to talk to South Australians who want to come home."
When asked about the medical testing, Kelly said the Crows would follow the due diligence required.
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"As you'd imagine there would be some obvious concern there. He's played 33 games over the last three years, so he's had some durability issues," he said.
"The medical team, if we went down that path, they'll make a thorough assessment because it obviously presents an area of risk, but hopefully for Orazio it's something that can be managed and he can get back to playing that dangerous footy he played back in 2016-2017."
The Bombers received some positive news on Monday morning with emerging midfielder Andrew McGrath re-signing until the end of 2022.
