They must be having the best pesto pasta in Melbourne.

Billy Wilson was announced as Carlton’s fourth Rising Star nominee of the season after an eye-catching performance against ladder-leader Fremantle in Round 24.

Wilson is alongside Jagga Smith, Harry Dean and Talor Byrne as Carlton’s exciting next wave of young talent.

But the dashing defender, thriving under new coach Josh Fraser, lives with three of those four players at home.

Wilson, Byrne and Dean all live a stone’s throw from the club with fellow Blue Flynn Young.

The secret to their success? A ritual pre-game pasta, of course.

“I don’t know, we’ve had the same one. We’ve won having this pasta; it’s just a pesto pasta, rigatoni,” Wilson said with a laugh.

“There’s a bit of chicken in there; I jump in (the kitchen) here and there (but) Flynn Young is definitely the main cook in the house – he loves it.”

Byrne and Dean are known to get a second wind late in the day and need to zoom around to burn off excess energy.

But, other than that, Wilson says they’re a “pretty measured” group.

“We’re a pretty cruisy household, we end up watching the footy the night before so that will be a good game to watch,” he said.

“We’re all pretty quiet, we don’t get up to too much that’s for sure. It’s just exciting for all of us, we can’t wait.

“I am sure there’s going to be a bit of nerves but nothing crazy.”

Carlton sparked back to life after Michael Voss and Wilson has played a key part in the Blues’ resurgence.

Wilson played just one game before Fraser took the reins this season, but has evolved into one of the Blues’ most important players across halfback.

He admits a wildcard final against Melbourne this week is more than a normal game but says Carlton is ready to draw on the renewed support from the fans.

“It probably isn’t, but us looking at what we need to do, all our job is is to play football,” Wilson said.

“Supporters that come, support, as long as they can get behind us, that’s what really drives us at the moment.”

Originally published as AFL 2026: Carlton defender Billy Wilson wins Rising Star nomination