Essendon star Orazio Fantasia reportedly requests trade to South Australia

Bombers star Orazio Fantasia signed a two-year contract extension in August. He’s dropped a bomb by now asking to be traded back home.

Orazio Fantasia wants out.

Essendon star Orazio Fantasia has reportedly asked the Bombers for a trade back home to South Australia.

The 23-year-old re-signed with the Bombers in August last year on a deal that took him through to the end of the 2021 season — but in a stunning move he now wants out.

The AFL website first reported Fantasia’s trade request on Wednesday, where it was revealed the star wants the club to preference a deal with Port Adelaide in any trade negotiations.

The same report claims the Crows are also aware of Fantasia’s desire to return home to Adelaide, but have accepted that the Power are the front-runners to secure a deal.

The report claims Fantasia wants to be traded during the 2019 trade period, leaving him with two years still to run on his Essendon contract.

Essendon is expected to seriously consider Fantasia’s request, aware that his current deal takes him through to free agency in 2021 — when the club would risk losing him to a rival with nothing in return.

The Bombers are expected to play hard ball to force the Power to the negotiating table before the club considers waving Fantasia’s contract.

Orrrraaazzzziiiioooooo.

Fantasia is originally from Adelaide and played for Norwood in the SANFL before he was drafted by the Bombers with the No. 55 overall pick at the 2013 AFL Draft.

He has struggled to reach the heights of previous seasons in 2019 as he continues to deal with a series of injury complaints.

Fantasia had been on light training duties, training away from the main Bombers group last week.

Fantasia has missed five matches this season and has been battling general soreness on top of a recent quad strain.

“Everyone carries something throughout a game or a season so it’s just about managing that,” Fantasia told Channel Nine before he made his return with the Bombers against GWS last week.

“I can’t do too much training otherwise I go into games a bit sorer than I’d like so it’s just about preparing my week a bit differently.”

— with AAP