Port Adelaide ruck Dante Visentini is ‘super happy’ and fully focused on footy after putting pen to paper on a two-year contact extension this week. 

The developing 22-year-old is entering his fourth year at the club, and will now remain at Alberton until at least the end of 2027. 

Visentini spoke to Port Adelaide’s media team on Wednesday to discuss what he loves about the club, his goals for the year, and how he’s learning from experienced pair Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet. 

Visentini on signing a new contract 
“Obviously, to have it done early in the year is really nice, so I can just focus on footy. But yeah, super happy with the club and where we're at and I’m going to my fourth season now. I’ve enjoyed my first three and just very happy to be here for a few more.” 

Visentini on what he loves about Port Adelaide 
“Definitely the people. I think we've got really good people across the board, and to know a few people outside of the footy department, and I feel like we do a lot of stuff together as a whole club. And then probably the fans and the way they turn up on game day, and I've been lucky enough to have a few games in front of them in an AFL sense. So yeah, you definitely hear their voices. And yeah, probably just the future of what this club is going to be, and already is. It's just really exciting to be part of it.” 

Visentini on recovering from post-season knee surgery 
“Yeah, it's been really different (this pre-season). Given that I probably haven't had that many injuries, which has been good in my career so far, it's also been difficult in the sense that, obviously, we're getting towards our first match sim against opposition this weekend, and I haven't really been a part of it, so that's been challenging. But it's also been good in the sense of building my body. I feel like I've gotten stronger and had a lot of improvement there and then also it's a good learning in case…obviously injuries are very frequent (in AFL football) so down the track, I think I'll be in good stead mentally and resilience wise.” 

Visentini on his relationship with Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet 
“Yeah, with both Jordon and Ivan, I feel like I get along with them very well, and we have a lot of fun, as well with Matthew Lobbe, our ruck coach. They're older than I am, and have a lot of experience in different areas, not just on the ground. But yeah, I feel like I've been able to learn a lot, and probably have missed the aspect of the pre-season where we get to battle it out a bit and sharpen each other up. But I’m looking forward to another season with them.” 

Visentini on his breakout game against Geelong last year 
“Yeah, it was definitely, at the time, the best win I've had on a football field in my life, I would say. And then the next week was the Hawthorn game, which was obviously even more of an epic finish. But yeah, it was sort of half familiar in the sense that I'd played one of my few games at GMHBA Stadium already, but as a win, it was actually just really exciting. And given that we hadn't won there as a club for a long time, that had some significance too. I had a lot of friends and family able to get there in the crowd. So I really did enjoy that win.” 

Visentini on his goals for the year ahead 
“Probably just building on the consistency that I started to develop last year. I think there's always things that you can't really control sometimes, but if I can go out there and do what I need for the team in my role, that's what I'll be basing myself off. So probably looking for that. And then again, similar to the last two years, I’ve been fortunate to snag some appearances at AFL level. So I'll obviously keep pressing my case for that. And just be as good as I can.” 

Visentini on living with teammates Lachie Jones and Jack Whitlock 
“Yeah, it's good, Lachie and I have been living together for a while now, so I feel like we're pretty familiar, and we lived just the two of us in a fairly big house last year, so it's been really a breath of fresh air, a little bit with Jack coming in, and he's a bit younger. He's only three years younger than me, but I sort of feel a bit older than that! I feel like we have gone along really well together already, and hopefully been able to show him a little bit of how to live out of home. And he's an absolute professional actually already. (He’s) killing it on the track and looks after himself well. But yeah, it's been fun. Been playing some cards at home recently, and did a quick Semaphore Yo Chi run last night which was good as the whole household. So they're good boys.” 

Visentini on the new recruits 
“Well, being number 38, I'm sandwiched between Tommy Cochrane and Benny Barrett, and they're both pretty lively characters, and have been training really well, so they're very exciting. And then obviously the few traded boys, being Jack (Lukosius), Joe (Richards) and Rory (Atkins), I feel like they've just come in and not missed a bit, any of them. So I'll be watching them and excited to see what they do.”