Channel 7 commentators change the pronunciation of Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia

What will Brian Taylor do now after his Channel 7 colleagues decided to change the pronunciation of Orazio Fantasia’s name in Essendon’s clash against Sydney.

It’s Orazio “Fan-ta-see-ya”, not “Fan-tay-zha”. Picture: AAP

What will Brian Taylor do now?

“Orraaaziiiooo Fan-ta-see-ya” just doesn’t have the same ring to it as “Orraaaziiiooo Fan-tay-zha”, which has been one of Taylor’s favourite names to call.

But in his 66th AFL game, Channel 7 commentators decided to change the pronunciation of Orazio Fantasia’s name in Essendon’s clash against Sydney on Friday night.

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It didn’t take long for fans to hear the adjustment when Fantasia snapped the first goal of the match in the opening minute.

BT was missing from Friday night’s coverage, which was headed by Bruce McAvaney, Basil Zempilas and Hamish McLachlan.

Is this real life? Is this just Fanta-sia?

Orazio gets the first!#AFLSwansDons pic.twitter.com/T88l0y1oII

— AFL (@AFL) May 10, 2019

Essendon captain Dyson Heppell clarified the correct pronunciation before the game but Fantasia revealed last year commentators had been getting it wrong.

And there was no missing Fantasia’s name with the Bombers livewire booting three first-half goals.

Plenty of fans welcomed the change in pronunciation on social media, with some wondering why it took so long.

But it will be interesting to hear BT’s thoughts in next week’s SuperFooty podcast.

FAN-TA-SI-AH is actually the correct way to pronounce the Italian surname Fantasia. The word pronounced FAN-TAY-SHA means a type of improvised musical composition, and there is also a Disney movie of that name.

— ProThought (@pruethaht) May 10, 2019

The real winner tonight is the discussion surrounding the new pronunciation of Fantasia #AFLSwansDons

— VileHellBitch (@_YeahNo_) May 10, 2019

BT’s not going to be happy... #fantasia #AFLSwansDons

— Jossa (@Joss00092) May 10, 2019

I sort of feel like the whole Fantasia pronunciation thing is actually the commentators demonstrating that they never do their homework? Why didn't they check this years ago?

— Louise Crossman (@louisecrossman) May 10, 2019

Fantasia: They keep getting my name wrong.
Heppell: Do you think you should say something?
Fantasia: Nah, I’ll wait for five seasons...
#AFLSwansDons

— Snert Underpant (@SnertUnderpant) May 10, 2019

How does it take 5 years to work out whether its “Fantasia” or “Fantaseeyu” #AFLSwansDons

— Adam Oxley (@oxy_4) May 10, 2019

Is it me or are we just hearing Fantasia more than ever tonight. His name has been mentioned about 100 times. #AFLSwansDons

— Kaz (@kazza_1961) May 10, 2019