Orazio Fantasia from the Essendon Football Club is the Round 23 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

The small forward-midfielder was among Essendon’s best players with 27 disposals (14 kicks and 13 handballs) and five marks in the three-point win over Collingwood at the MCG yesterday. 

It was the 19-year-old’s fifth game this season, bringing his career tally to eight after playing three in his debut season last year.

While he has kicked just two goals this year, both in Round 21 against the Suns, one of them was nominated for the Coates Hire Goal of the Year.

Orazio was recruited from the Payneham Norwood Union and the Norwood Football Clubs in Adelaide and was selection 55 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft. 

He represented South Australia in the 2013 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. In the same year he was a member of Norwood’s SANFL premiership team. 

Head of Player Development at Essendon Mark Neeld said the Round 23 Rising Star nomination is fantastic recognition for Orazio's consistent performance against Collingwood.

"Orazio is one of an exciting group of young players on our senior list, he has a tremendous work ethic, hunger to develop, and we believe this combination of attributes lays the foundations for a bright future at Essendon," Neeld said.

Stay across the Essendon website today for a special feature on Essendon's young players, including Fantasia.