Big Stephen Alessio was certainly one of Essendon's stars in early 1995. Playing a handfull of games in 1992 and half a season in 1993, in 1994 he started to show some real potential as a footballer. His story, as many Essendon fans will know, is a strange one. He did not play competitive football, and had no real intention to do so, but one summer he wanted to get fit, mainly for local football, so he trained with his friend at the Essendon Football Club. The Club thought he had potential, and before he knew it he was picked to play in the team. He might not have envisiged a future in football, but now that he's there, I don't think he would trade it for anything. Over the 94/95 summer he worked out solidly in the weights room, adding a bulk of muscle to his tall frame, and that has given him the foundation for a briliant year in 1995. He has played in the ruck and on the forward line, taking spectacular marks (just listen to Peter Landy's call of his mark in the North Melbourne game from round 10) and kicking goals. Wearing Simon Madden's old number, 27, he certainly looks set to have a great career like that Essendon champion. A lacerated kidney meant that he missed almost two months in the middle of the year, including the State of Origin game, for which he was a certainty to play for Victoria. Hopefully this year will be a sign of great years to come for the Big man.
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