Steven Alessio played his best game for the season against Collingwood last Wednesday - the big man stood tall in a big game. He controlled the ruck in the second half and was a key to the Bombers chalking up their fourth win of the season. Alessio has spent limited time in the ruck since the arrival of John Barnes but no-one has ever doubted his ability in that role - he was excellent as the Bombers number one ruckman in 1999. He now spends more time in the Bombers star-studded forward line where he stretches opposition defenders and creates opportunities at ground level. Statistics don't always tell the story - Alessio is an important player at Windy Hill.

Alessio played an excellent second half against Collingwood on Anzac Day. The Bombers had been soundly beaten out of the middle in the second quarter of the match but that all changed in the second half. Alessio got his hands on the footy, James Hird and Jason Johnson suddenly got first look at the leather and the Bombers managed to turn around what looked to be a likely loss. ""It was nice to have a good run in the ruck and contribute to the win. John Barnes isn't going to dominate each week and if he is having a quiet one then I have to make sure I have an impact and vice versa,"" Alessio said. ""And that goes for the whole team. Matthew Lloyd won't kick a bag a each week and Dustin Fletcher won't completely shut down the number one forward from the opposition each week - when this happens the other players have to step up and I think the side has done that pretty well in the past couple of years.""

Despite winning the battle, Alessio was full of praise for Collingwood youngster Josh Fraser. ""He is going to be a very good player but people shouldn't forget he is just young. He still has to fill out and it can be hard rucking against players who are physically stronger - I found it hard when I was young against players like Justin Madden Scott Wynd and Damian Monkhurst,"" Alessio said.

The performance was timely for Alessio whohad been criticised in some quarters for not contributing enough for the Bombers. Robert Walls, writing for The Age, had labelled Alessio as Essendon's most over-rated player. Alessio said he had taken no notice of the article. ""If I need something like that to get me to play good football then I would have to think about why I am playing the game,"" Alessio said. ""I couldn't care less what Robert Walls or any other journalist thinks of my football. I am accountable to my teammates and the coaching staff - at the end of the day that is all I can control.""

Alessio said he had been frustrated at times by not getting his hands on the football as much as he would like. ""It can be pretty tough to get a kick down forward when you are surrounded by Lloyd, Lucas, Hird, Mercuri, Long and co. But I still have a role to play - whether that is creating space or creating a crumb.""

Alessio and Barnes will again have their work cut-out this Sunday when they take on West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner.