A meeting with coach Ken Hinkley and football boss Chris Davies, a dinner with skipper Tom Jonas and the chance to work with Alipate Carlile through Port Adelaide’s community programs.

Those things, a four-year deal and the chance to challenge for a premiership were enough to convince Aliir Aliir that he should seek a trade from Sydney to Port Adelaide.

The 26-year-old’s move was confirmed on Wednesday with a future second-round pick exchanging hands between Port and the Swans.

While he was under contract with Sydney, Aliir knew there was no certainty the deal would eventuate but after a short trip to Adelaide for a medical on Monday things happened very quickly.

“It feels good. I guess everything happened really quick,” Aliir told portadelaidefc.com.au

“I’m really excited to be joining Port. Obviously, Port has been a great club, been around for 150 years so I’m just really looking forward to getting over there and meeting the boys and the fans.

“I know the fans really get into it so I’m excited about that too.

“The goal is to win a premiership so we’re going to do as much as we can to get up there.”

As well as his medical, Aliir met Hinkley and Davies and found time to grab a bite to eat with a few of his new teammates before returning to Sydney to see if a trade could be worked through.

While his visit to Alberton was brief, the 195cm backman is already feeling welcome and excited about coming back.

“I know Boaky (Travis Boak) and Pep (Sam Powell-Pepper) and Tom Jonas, I had dinner with them before I flew out so it was good to be able to meet a few of the boys and get to know them, and chat with them,” Aliir said.

“A few of the boys have been messaging me today so I already feel welcome so it’ll be good once I’m down there (in Adelaide) to get to meet them face to face and get to work with them.”

A key factor in his decision was the ability to be closer to his mother and siblings who live in Western Australia, having moved away when he was drafted from East Perth with pick 44 in the 2013 AFL National Draft.

He said his family featured strongly in his decision-making process and are eagerly awaiting his arrival in Adelaide.

“I’ve sort of lived pretty much everywhere except the Northern Territory if I’m honest but it is nice to be closer to family,” Aliir said.

“My brothers are stoked so I’m pretty sure they’re going to come and stay with me the first couple of weeks to help me settle.”

Someone else happy about Aliir’s arrival was Port Adelaide’s Multicultural Programs Manager, Alipate “Bobby” Carlile.

He was on the phone to Aliir as soon as he got word the club was interested in bringing him to Adelaide to sign him up to help with his programs.

“Me and Bobby have known each other for a while now through that ambassador role we’ve been able to do by playing in the AFL,” Aliir explained.

“When he heard there was a possibility of me joining the club, he spoke to me about it.

“Obviously, it’s not just about playing, there are other opportunities at the club to grow the game and in the multicultural programs that he and the boys at Port do.

“That’s the other side of things that I’m really passionate about, getting out in the community and helping as much as I can, whether it’s by AFL or other sports to embrace and connect everyone.

“It’s a side of the game I’ve really enjoyed doing so I’m excited to connect with Bobby and I think he’s pretty stoked as well.”

During his 64 AFL games and five goals with the Swans, Aliir has shown his ability to play in defence and in the ruck, even spending time as a forward in 2020.

It has seen many designate him as a direct replacement for the equally versatile Justin Westhoff, who retired at the end of the season.

But the Kenyan-born big man is eager to work with backlines coach Brett Montgomery and position himself alongside Jonas and be part of the competition’s meanest defence.

“I’ve played a bit of everywhere this year – down back, up forward, in the ruck and then down back again.

“It’s good to be able to do that but to be honest I really see myself as a backman.

“I see myself as being able to play on instinct, read the play, I try and cover as much ground to help my teammates as much as I can, whether spoiling or marking, and as soon as I mark it I want to move the ball forward and try play a front-half type of game as much as I can.”