Harry Alessio

Full Name: Henry Harold Alessio
Date of Birth: Dec 22 1895
Height: 175 cm ( 5-9 )
Weight: 71 kg ( 11-3 )
Guernsey: 24
Debut: 31/07/1917 , Round 15 , Fitzroy
Last Game: 19/07/1919 , Round 11 , Geelong

RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 1915-19
Total Games: 30
Total Goals: 44

BIOGRAPHY
Harry was a half-forward and rover, and spent five seasons with Richmond, being voted best player in the club's first VFL Final in 1916 against Carlton. Harry finished that game with 4 goals. His highest individual goal tally was 5 against essendon in the last game of 1915. He later crossed to Brunswick where he was a member of their 1925 Premiership side before moving to Gippsland, where he played with Toora. He died in 1973.

1916 season
In the Semi Final against Carlton, Alessio entered the club history books as Richmond's best player in their first League final. He was singled out by numerous newspapers for his performance. 
"Richmond at least claimed the best individual performer, in the person of Alessio. Whether stationed forward or roving, his display was characterised by a thoroughness that won the admiration of ail. Sheer grit enabled the colt to summont the manifold difficult propositions that came his way, and his accurate kicking (4 goals) assisted materially at the fine showing made by the side. " (Sporting Judge)

"Alessio, Richmond's rover and forward, improved on his early season's performance, when he was singled out among the best colts of the season. He is an honest and reliable footballer, and works well forhis end with both feet and hands very well. He was never far from the ball, and when he got it he made the best use of it. He had no equal on the ground" (The Leader)

"Richmond had a great little man in Alessio..." (The Age)

"...when we come to sum up everything , and consider the experience and other qualifications, and attributes of the players, we stand astonished and filled with admiration at the wonderful performance of young Alessio and instead fully (?) appoint him to the premier place" (Richmond Guardian. n.b the digitisation is poor in the final sentence, I have guessed the missing word 'fully' based on structure of legible letters)

More here:  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article254635013

PRE RICHMOND
West Brunswick Primary School ; North Melbourne Juniors

POST RICHMOND
Brunswick 1920-27 , Games 86 ( Honours - Premiership 1925 ) ; Beechworth 1924 ( Honours - Captain/Coach ) ; Toora 1930-32 , 1938 ( Honours - Senior Coach )

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