Orazio Fantasia was texting Norwood teammate Trent Dumond to congratulate him before he even realised his own named was called out by Essendon List Manager Adrian Dodoro.
In what Fantasia described as ‘a dream come true’, the club selected the small forward from Norwood with pick 55 at last night’s 2013 AFL National Draft.
“It is kind of surreal really, I am still in shock. I am just so excited,” Fantasia said.
“I was watching the draft with my family on TV. I was on my phone texting Trent Dumond, who got selected by North Melbourne, to say congratulations and then the next minute my aunty jumped up and screamed and the rest of my family went crazy.
“I didn’t realise what had happened and then I look at the screen and there I was. It’s just amazing.”
The lightly framed small forward, who can push through the midfield, is praised for his outstanding speed and endurance and worked closely with Bombers’ assistant coach Nathan Bassett, who was Fantasia’s former premiership winning senior coach at Norwood.
“Nathan has done so much for me at Norwood and to move to Melbourne and be with him again is going to be so exciting. I am really ready for the move,” Fantasia said.
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Dodoro praised the 18-year-old for his ‘elite engine’, believing he will be an important asset to the Bombers’ line up from 2014 onwards.
“Orazio has fantastic speed and a huge engine and he fits the criteria of bringing speed to the team,” Dodoro said.
“Nathan came over to Essendon this year and was a massive wrap for him and we were very impressed too. We’re happy to have Orazio on board.”
Fantasia was a consistent performer for South Australia in the AFL Under 18 Championships in 2013 and last night said he was raring to go ahead of his first official week at the True Value Solar Centre.
“I am just so excited to have Bomber as coach too. To see what he did with Geelong, I’m sure he will do that with Essendon so I’m wrapt to be working under him,” Fantasia said.
“I think I can bring some speed and agility, but I think I’m a pretty hard working and dedicated player so I will train hard and give 110%.
“It’s just a dream come true and I am so excited to get started at Essendon.”
