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PORT Adelaide is thrilled restricted free agent Tom Rockliff has nominated the club as his preferred destination and will be doing all it can to ensure he plays for them next year.
Power football boss Chris Davies confirmed the Brisbane Lions midfielder had revealed he wants to play his football with Port from next year and beyond.
Rockliff informed the Power of his decision late on Monday, with fellow suitor Carlton missing out on one of its targets.
"We're pleased Tom has shown a willingness to come to Port Adelaide over the other clubs that he's spoken to," Davies told NAB AFL Trade Radio.
"It's up to us now to work with his management to finalise what a potential deal could look like."
Given Rockliff is a restricted free agent, the Lions will have the opportunity to match any offer tabled to Rockliff.
However, it is understood they are unlikely to do so, with coach Chris Fagan hinting the Lions are just as happy to nab a compensation pick following Rockliff's departure.
"It always feels like that (a blow). It's not the end of the world. You get a compensation pick if he does go," Fagan told RSN 927.
Davies said he believes Rockliff chose the Power because he was buoyed by the possible success the club could have in the coming seasons.
"Without wanting to talk for Tom, he wanted to go to a club that's going to give him the best opportunity to play in finals," Davies said.
"As a free agent there's no doubt there's an element of financial award, but ultimately we think we can provide him with an opportunity, if we can keep progressing from our form this year that will give him an opportunity to play in finals."
Even with Rockliff to be added to the club's list from next year, the Power still has room to land Geelong free agent Steven Motlop.
The out-of-contract Motlop toured Gold Coast's facilities on Tuesday and could join the Suns independent of any deal the Cats look to put forward for Gary Ablett.
"We finished the 2017 season significantly under the salary cap. We have capacity and it's been amusing to sit back and listen to people suggest that we don't over a period of time," Davies said.
"We're comfortable with where we've been at with Steven. He's a person who's not unfamiliar to Port Adelaide, he has family links with his brother (former player Daniel) and cousin Marlon (who was on the Power's list).
"He's looking at his free agency options at the moment and I have no doubt we'll remain in that conversation and if that includes Steven coming to the footy club then we'd obviously look at that."
Melbourne forward Jack Watts will remain on Port's radar until he rules the club out completely.
Watts' preference is to remain in Victoria if he does leave the Demons, with the former No.1 pick saying on Tuesday that he was "disappointed" when news filtered through to him that he was on the trade table.
The Power will not stand in the way of Brendon Ah Chee, Aaron Young and Matthew Lobbe from moving to other clubs after all three were on the selection fringe in 2017.
Ah Chee has significant interest from West Coast, while Young will be allowed to test the waters and Lobbe could join the Brisbane Lions.
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