Moonee Valley Voices

From Premiership Glory to Business Essendon: Steve Alessio’s Journey On and Off the Field

Content Hype Studio | Moonee Ponds

Steve Alessio’s name is well known to Essendon fans — a premiership player, ruckman, and one of the characters of the Bombers’ golden era. But his story doesn’t stop at the final siren.

In this episode of Moonee Valley Voices, Steve joins host Matthew Galea to reflect on his journey from growing up locally and breaking into the AFL, to being part of the legendary 2000 premiership team. He shares what it was like to play through the game’s shift to full professionalism, the leadership lessons he carried from the field into his career, and how those experiences shaped his approach to building relationships in business.

That focus on connection is at the heart of Business Essendon, the networking group Steve co-founded with Jordan Leask. We discuss why it’s become such a powerful space for local business owners, how it blends genuine connection with practical opportunities, and the parallels Steve sees between great teams and great networks.

Whether you’re a footy fan, a local business owner, or simply someone who values strong community connections, you’ll enjoy this relaxed and insightful chat.