Third round draft selection Orazio Fantasia has recounted the nerves he felt as his football future hang in the balance in the lead up to the 2013 National Draft.

Essendon selected Fantasia with just their second selection in the draft at pick 55 after being impressed with his 2013 season at Norwood in the SANFL.

After a childhood of hard toil to become the best player he could that night would decide whether he would make it on the big stage.

“I was just at a local pub with my family watching it because we didn’t have Foxtel at the time so we were just sitting down and nervously waiting in anticipation for what was going to unfold,” Fantasia said.

“I was definitely in shock because I hadn’t spoken to Essendon a whole lot, I had a little chat with them but they kept their cards close to their chest.

“I was looking down at my phone texting one of my mates that just got drafted so it was an amazing feeling.

“I was on the phone to Adrian (Dodoro) after that and it was all happening.”

Fantasia is a wiser head twelve months on and urges potential draftees to make sure they don’t get too stressed on Thursday night.

“Let it happen, don’t get caught up in the moment because if it is meant to be it will happen,” he said.

“Relax, stay composed and then work hard and you will get there.”

The lightly framed midfielder went on to reward the Bombers recruiters in a strong first season on the club’s senior list culminating in two matches in the AFL side towards the end of the season.

“Early on we were restricted I guess, in terms of modified training and not going one hundred per cent in case we go injured,”

“With me, being small, my goal was really to try and put on a lot of weight to hopefully get up to 70kgs.

“I did get a few games in the end which was a nice reward.”