Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Steven Alessio

Known as
Steven Alessio

Born
8 November 1971 (age 51)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 197d
Last game: 31y 282d

Height and weight
Height: 203 cm
Weight: 106 kg

Senior clubs
Essendon

Jumper numbers
Essendon: 44, 27

Family links
Matthew Watson (Nephew)

Steven Alessio

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
EssendonAFL1992-20031841931.0565%6.294.863.9622
Total1992-20031841931.0565%6.294.863.9622

AFL: 10,336th player to appear, 793rd most games played, 430th most goals kickedEssendon: 971st player to appear, 44th most games played, 26th most goals kicked

After preferring basketball to football as a youngster Steven Alessio belied this by carving out a fine AFL career with Essendon. Strongly built and very dynamic, he could operate as a ruckman or in a key forward position. Between 1992 and 2003 he played 184 senior games for the Bombers and registered 193 goals. After struggling for regular selection early in his career - he did not make the cut for the ultimately triumphant grand final clash with Carlton in 1993, for instance - he assumed the role of number one ruckman in 1995. When Essendon next went top via an emphatic grand final defeat of Melbourne in 2000 Steven Alessio was a key member of the team.

At the end of an injury-ruined 2002 campaign Alessio was de-listed only to be re-drafted a few months later after Essendon proved unable to find a replacement. The 2003 season saw him play a final 16 AFL games before retiring.

Since retiring as a player he has occupied a number of off-field roles at Essendon.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Wikipedia article

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Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.