Out-of-contract West Coast forward Junior Rioli is said to have met with Port Adelaide's top brass and undergone a medical at Alberton Oval, reportedly deciding he want to join the South Australian club.
Rioli has emerged as an in-demand name this off-season, with the Power and Kangaroos among the clubs linked to the premiership Eagle.
Port Adelaide are understood to have tabled a "very attractive" multi-year offer to Rioli, and have been seen as the front-runners to land the 27-year-old should he sever ties with West Coast.
The St Mary's product has reportedly undergone a medical at Port Adelaide's headquarters and has met with senior coach Ken Hinkley and footy boss Chris Davies, according to The Advertiser.
9 News have stated that following his trip to Alberton, where he also met with premiership great Shaun Burgoyne, Rioli has "declared he wants to join" the club.
West Coast star Junior Rioli has declared he wants to join Port Adelaide next season. Had coffee with Shaun Burgoyne this morning followed by a medical at Alberton. Hear our extensive chat @9NewsAdel very soon.
— Corey Norris (@coreynorris9) September 5, 2022
“Oh man, hopefully, we’ll see how we go, hey. See if my manager can look after me, work out a good thing,” he told Nine News of his move to Port Adelaide.
“I’m not into the politics side … so if I could set myself up for the rest of my life. I’ve been through too much the last 18 months so just want to make the most of the industry I’m in now.
“Lot of decisions have been weighed up before I came back to footy. It’s just a bit slower now my dad’s not here.
“You know to play the best footy, you’ve got to be comfortable. For me, I learnt that when I wasn’t playing footy. I wasn’t comfortable, I wasn’t stable, so if I could be stable, I know I’d get the best out of my footy."
The Power would view Rioli as an answer to their shifting small forward stocks, having lost Robbie Gray to retirement, while Orazio Fantasia failed to get on the field for the Power this year.
A move to South Australia would see Rioli return closer to family, however it would leave West Coast frustrated given the WA club remained home to the small forward during his three-year football absence due to an anti-doping ban.
Rioli made his debut in the Eagles' premiership season of 2018, playing 24 matches including the grand final victory.
The Tiwi Islands-born livewire would add another 14 games to his career the following year before receiving his lengthy suspension for a failed drug test.
Rioli made his return to the field in Round 1 of this season, snapping a 717-day drought when he was named to face the Gold Coast Suns.
The crafty goalsneak has booted 60 goals in 51 career games in the blue and gold.
