Steven Alessio has been outstanding for Essendon in the first two weeks on the 2001 fianls' series and his input will again be critical in this Saturday's Grand Final showdown with Brisbane. In the qualifying final against Richmond, Alessio was sensational in the ruck against Brendan Gale and Brad Ottens. He rucked superbly and dropped back into the back half to take some telling marks. He did a similar job against Hawthorn although it was when he pushed forward that he posed real problems for the Hawks. Alessio will again be a key player this weekend.

Alessio has assumed the mantle as number one ruckman for the Bombers with John Barnes struggling with an achilles injury for much of the year. Alessio was also injured - he had arthroscopic surgery and missed six weeks. He was excellent before the injury and he only took a couple of games after the injury to again show very good form.

""It took me a little while to find the football again but I'm back to where I was earlier in the season,"" Alessio said. ""I was really disappointed when I got injured because I was starting to get a bit of momentum going and my confidence was high.""

Alessio realises the importance of the ruck contests this weekend. ""I think everyone knows how good the Brisbane mid-field is so if I can get my hands on the football first it might make things a bit easier for our blokes,"" Alessio said. ""But I also think a few people are under-estimating our on-ballers - they are a pretty good group in my opinion.""

Alessio is certain to find himself deep in the forward line at times on Saturday. When John Barnes came onto the ground against Hawthorn early in the second quarter, Alessio was released to full forward. It is no co-incidence that Essendon put together its best 20-minutes of the match. If Barnes can again spend periods in the ruck, Alessio will stretch the Brisbane back half and hopefully contribute on the scoreboard.

Brisbane's ruck combination consists of Beau McDonald and Clark Keating. Alessio said he hasn't played a lot of football against either Brisbane big man. ""I missed the game up there earlier in the year and Keating has been injured once or twice as well,"" Alessio said. ""I do know that both have been in very good form and they work very well together. They generally rotate off the bench.""

If Alessio can continue his form of recent weeks, he and his teammates might just have a Premiership Medal hanging around their neck by the end of the day.