#22 Steele Sidebottom

[Donny]

Is Sidebottom on the way back?
He had 15 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles...still very unlike the Sidey we've come to know.

15 disposals ? Actually 21. 17 kicks.

[Pies2016]

The move to half back for Sidey is / was a smart one. No disrespect at all but H B F is a far easier position to play than wing. He’s done the hard yards for a decade and his smarts and ball use will hold him in good stead as a half back flanker. Being accountable for an opponent won’t bother him either, as that’s a wingers job everytime the opposition have the footy.
The decision is also easier when Lipinski can step into the wing role as a quick fix replacement.

[inxs88]

He is going to require "pushing" into retirement given his early season comments about wanting to play forever. Rising 34 and with a need to phase out our older plus 30's, hopefully he can exit at season's end another September winner.

[qldmagpie67]

The move to half back for Sidey is / was a smart one. No disrespect at all but H B F is a far easier position to play than wing. He’s done the hard yards for a decade and his smarts and ball use will hold him in good stead as a half back flanker. Being accountable for an opponent won’t bother him either, as that’s a wingers job everytime the opposition have the footy.
The decision is also easier when Lipinski can step into the wing role as a quick fix replacement.

It was a wise decision. Fly without saying it directly had to make a move because his form had been at best patchy on the wing
It was either find a role he could do or find a way to leave him out of the team
While he hasn’t been startling in his new position he’s been ok but the acid test will be when he’s left isolated with someone with pace. He will need all his smarts then not to be exposed.
Rachele got off him a couple times last week but luckily it didn’t hurt too much
Let’s see how he goes week to week

[Pies4shaw]

Anyone know how many games he and Pendles have played together? Gotta be close to a club record I reckon. Both been so durable for so long.

Number of games together:

2009 = 9
2010 = 34 (+25)
2011 = 59 (+25)
2012 = 79 (+20)
2013 = 102 (+23)
2014 = 120 (+18]
2015 = 136 (+16)
2016 = 156 (+20)
2017 = 172 (+16)
2018 = 197 (+25)
2019 = 220 (+23)
2020 = 226 (+6)
2021 = 243 (+17)
2022 = 267 (+24)
2023 = 275 (+8]

They've played 275 games together.

Don't know what the club record is, but it would be close to the top I suspect.

They're out in front for Collingwood, now, by miles.

I don't know the exact numbers for the next best - however, we do know that Coventry played 308 games but the most games played by a player who played with him was Harry Collier (253 games) and Coventry's career did not fully overlap with Collier's. Tony Shaw's career largely overlapped with Peter Daicos but Daics only managed 250 games. Len Thompson and Wayne Richardson are probably up there - they didn't play as many games as some of the others (268 for Collingwood and 277, respectively) but they will have played a lot together (Big Len had only played one game for the seniors before Wayne joined the Club at the start of 1966 - and they played together until 1978).

As of last game, Scott and Steele have played in the Collingwood jumper together 295 times. That's 4th all-time. The competition record is 307 (McLeod and Edwards), followed by Selwood and Hawkins (305) and Goodes and Bolton (301). So, there's a good prospect that they'll be inside the top 3 by the time they're done.

[Jezza]

^ Thanks for updating, P4S.

Hopefully they'll break the record. It will only further enhance their legacies.

[Pies4shaw]

Sparing a thought for inxs88 and Qldmagpie67 today - Sidey's BOG 34 disposal game last night was his best return for more than 5 years and, for a genuine Sidey-hater, must have been the stuff of nightmares. We feel for you both.

Three-year contract extension, here we come.

[qldmagpie67]

With 13 effective disposals out of them
Stats don’t lie mate when he kicks it to a 2 on 1 and we lose it and it goes back over his head is hardly note worthy
No point getting it so much and giving it back
Merrett had 30 touches with 25 effective of them
He was BOG by the length of the Hume highway
But Sidey wasn’t by himself Nick D had 7 effective kicks from 23 attempted as well
Again might as well not have it give it back to them

[BrodieisTops]

Steele is playing his best footy since his debut proud and hope he goes on next year. He is fit and healthy enthusiastic and a great teacher for younger players.