His desire to return home to South Australia became clear midway through 2019 but it took until the end of this season before he finally bit the bullet and requested a trade to Port Adelaide so he and his partner Mikayla could be near friends and family.
His indecision at the end of 2019 about whether he should move or stay was driven,he says,by a sense of loyalty to Essendon and the people he was friends with there.
At the end of last year – with key people at Port Adelaide eventually getting over being jilted in 2019 – Fantasia sat down with trusted friends and listened.
“They said you have to do what is best for you and what is going to help you play your best footy and help you mentally and that decision was then to come home,” Fantasia said.
He’s been surprised at the impact the shift has had on him mentally and physically.
“I’m a big stress head so carry a lot of stress... now I feel like off the field and mentally I am in such a strong position and that is correlating to me sleeping better,recovering better and ultimately putting more work in on the track,” Fantasia said.
“I don’t think I have missed a session this whole pre-season. I have put the most work in I have for probably five or six years so that gives me confidence.”