Essendon coach Brad Scott has spoken on a recent report suggesting Port Adelaide forward Orazio Fantasia wants to return to the Bombers this year.
Fantasia is off-contract at Alberton Oval and has found opportunities hard to come by in his three years since returning to his home state of South Australia, with injuries playing a leading role in keeping the 27-year-old out of Ken Hinkley's side.
A premiership player for Norwood as a teenager, Fantasia has managed four games at the AFL level since the start of last year, a timeline that has seen the small forward amass seven appearances for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL.
Fantasia left Essendon at the end of the 2020 season, the same off-season where prized father-son forward Joe Daniher sought a move to Brisbane through free agency and Adam Saad requested a trade to Carlton.
The 80-game ex-Bomber is reportedly seeking a move back to Essendon given his expiring contract and familiarity with the club, however, interest in a reunion coming from the Hangar is yet to be seen.
While Scott was unaware of the report suggesting Fantasia wanted to return to Tullamarine, the Bombers coach said he hoped it reflected the club's new direction toward being an attractive club for players to consider.
"I think it's a real positive," Scott told reporters on Thursday.
"Without wanting to dredge up any of the past, our club has been through some challenges over the last decade.
"We had some players, for whatever reason, haven't wanted to be part of our club.
"Anytime there are players who are saying they want to come back to Essendon is a really good sign for our club and hopefully it's a reflection of the vision we're trying to set up here."
While the acquisition of Fantasia could come with little cost, Essendon's list management team are likely to weigh up the risks given his recent run with injury while also considering their current stock of fledgeling forwards.
The Bombers have drafted Jye Menzie and Davey twins Alwyn and Jayden in the past 14 months, while Matt Guelfi enjoyed a breakout 2022 season to finish third in the club's best and fairest count. Medium-sized forwards Kyle Langford and Jake Stringer sit first and second, respectively for goals kicked at Essendon so far this year, while the likes of Archie Perkins, Ben Hobbs and Nic Martin are shuffled through the attacking third as part of their midfield rotations under Scott.
Key position talent is likely an area where Essendon will look to bolster through the coming years, with a tall forward to rival Peter Wright for the first-string duties and a standout key defender being potential target options for Scott and his team to look toward.
Developing forward Harrison Jones joins free agent pair Darcy Parish and Mason Redman, Menzie, Andrew Phillips, Nick Bryan and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, among others, in being unsigned beyond 2023.
Both Parish and Redman have been floated as trade targets for other clubs, while Bryan could be an enticing asset given the fickle ruck market. The young ruckman has struggled to break into Scott's side, given the reliance on Sam Draper and his deputy Phillips, however, the Bombers coach is aware of Bryan's unfortunate position on the periphery.
"Nick Bryan is too good for the VFL," Scott said.
"He's a really dominant player at that level. We're really keen to get him into the side. Nick is holding up his end of the bargain, it's just the balance of our side that we need to think about."