Orazio Fantasia has credited the “bond” that he shares with his teammates for his decision to sign on at Essendon.

The South Australian recently signed a two-year extension to his contract, keeping him at The Hangar until at least the end of the 2021 season, and he said the family environment of the club is what encouraged him to stay the most.

“I think it’s just the love with the boys and that bond that we share in the locker room. We really care for each other and I think we’re definitely going in the right direction,” Fantasia said.

“You always miss your family when you live away from them, but this place is like my second home now.

“I’ve been here for five years already and to stick around for another three is going to be awesome.”

Fantasia was voted into the club’s leadership group this year, a role he has thrived in after receiving some handy advice from experienced teammate Cale Hooker.

“When I got voted in, Hooksy gave me the advice from day one to not change who you are and just be yourself, because you get voted in for that reason.

“That was great and that’s what I’ve tried to do the whole time.”

While the 22-year-old is one of the league’s most potent forwards, he has also proven a handful for the opposition in the midfield, adding pace and skill to the on-ball brigade while maintaining the team’s fresh legs and ensuring the side always finishes strongly.

“I think that’s the strength of the whole side really,” Fantasia said.

“We flip eight to 10 guys through there and that’s how we run over teams in the end, so I think it’s definitely the way of the future for us.”

Fantasia admitted 2018 has been frustrating year, with a string of injuries interrupting not just this season, but greatly restricting his pre-season.

However, the speedy Bomber has not missed a beat when taking the field, booting 20 goals from 13 games to continue his rise into the top echelon of the league’s small forwards.

“When you don’t have a full pre-season (and it is) very interrupted, it sort of hurts and you’re playing catch up a little bit.

“When I have been back I’ve been enjoying my time (in the team) and I think you can see that when I play – I love playing my footy and (I am) always happy and energetic out there.”

As Essendon continues to fight for another finals berth, it appears unlikely it will finish as high on the ladder as last year (seventh), but Fantasia is adamant the side has still made progress.

“We’ve matured as a whole side compared to the start of the year, like (in) games where we’ve been close, and we’ve just stuck to the process and that’s been our strong communication and (we have) continued to develop in that way.

“In previous years we probably would roll over and lose a few of those games, but I think the way we’ve matured as a side has been great.”

“It’s a real unknown, I think it’s very exciting. If we can stick this group together for the next couple of years, who knows what we can do.”

Fantasia’s focus will now once again turn to rehabilitation in a race to return to the line-up after suffering a minor hamstring injury in the Bombers’ impressive victory over St Kilda last week.