Port Adelaide key forward Ollie Lord is reportedly drawing interest from a number of Victorian rivals seeking to lure the Sandringham product back home.
Collingwood and Melbourne were two teams mentioned byย AFL.com's Josh Gabelich as having links to Lord, and a clear vacancy in their tall forward stocks.
22 years old, Lord has shown plenty of promise in just a 19-game career thus far, but also an unfortunate propensity for injuries, missing most of 2024 with a fractured tibia and crook knee.
He is contracted to play another two seasons at the Power, and has disclosed no desire to leave the club this off-season, but he may struggle for a routine spot behind incoming key Jack Lukosius, alongside teammates Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall.
Charlie Dixon's retirement call would initially have opened the door for Lord to barge in, though Lukosius' likely addition changes that.
With just 21 goals in his short career, Lord is yet to unveil his future worth, though four goals in a losing qualifying final in 2023 provides an exciting base for him to leap from in 2025, having missed majority of this season.
Port Adelaide would hope to keep Lord around for at least another season while the youngster hopefully grows his game and increases his value.
He may move past his competition at Alberton with another year of experience, or eventually warrant a significant offer to change ship.
Whatever the case, Lord's situation adds another layer to consider at Port Adelaide, amidst a very active off-season; exiting Dan Houston, Ivan Soldo and Dixon while hoping to welcome Lukosius, Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and Joe Richards.
The club boast no first round picks in the upcoming National Draft, holding just picks 36 and 54.
