#22 - Steele Sidebottom - 2009

[smiddaz123]

Date of birth: 2/1/91
Height: 182cm
Weight: 79kg
Club: Murray/Congupna (VIC)

Bio: Sidebottom is a medium defender with neat disposal by foot who can go forward with devastating effect. He is strong overhead and in one-on-one contests. An AIS/AFL Academy graduate and Vic Country representative in 2008, Sidebottom won All-Australian honours. From Congupna FC.

Jason McCartney says: Steele was in the medium defenders group at draft camp, but he obviously caused a bit of a stir with 10 goals in the TAC Cup grand final. The great thing about Steele is his ability to win the footy in and around the clearances. He had 30 possessions, took 14 or 15 marks and had 10 clearances in that match, so it wasn't like he was playing as a permanent forward either. He'll probably end up playing through the middle and up forward in the AFL, but he can also play in defence.

Stats:

NAB AFL Under 18 Championships
Team Mt K HB D M HO T G
Vic Country 5 12.8 5.0 17.8 3.4 0.0 3.4 0.0

Draft Camp highlights:
2nd 3km time trial 10min 32sec
=2nd shuttle run/beep test 14.5sec

In his own words

What sort of player are you?
This year I’ve started to go down back a bit, so I’m a bit of a running half-back flanker. But I like to go into the midfield a bit and get amongst it. Last year I played predominantly midfield and swapping up forward. I hadn’t really played [in the] backline before.

Strengths?
I like to think I’m good on both sides of my body.

Weaknesses?
I suppose I can build myself up a bit, and get a bit more bulk. I also need to get a bit more accountable for my man.

​

 

[wixism]

On myspace ??
check out his fanpage and add
www.myspace.com/steelesidebottom22

 

[Pie eyed]

The first time I have had a chance to watch the TAC GF.


I can now see why there is so much optimism surrounding Steele.
An awesome individual display.
No wonder every picture of him has him smiling.

 

[smiddaz123]

I have a copy of the TAC Grand Final. Always been planning to make a highlights package of all of Steele's touches, but never got around to it.

 

[smiddaz123]

19 possessions on debut for Steele.

Kicking looks great off both sides as expected and his handpassing was a feature of his game I hadn't seen before, and I was happy with what i saw.

Good debut game.

 

[smiddaz123]

Steele Sidebottom’s first game in black and white colours resulted in Collingwood defeating Essendon by 43 points to book a place in next week’s NAB Cup grand final.

The Magpies' first pick in the 2008 AFL National Draft spoke to CTV in the rooms after the team’s win.

“I suppose at the start I was nervous playing in front of the crowd but as the game went on it felt a bit more comfortable,” Sidebottom said after his impressive performance.

Sidebottom came off the bench early in the first quarter and was sent into centre square for his first run in the senior side.

“Before the game tonight I thought I was on the wing but I went straight into the middle. There were a few guys giving it to me but nothing too bad.”

The 19-year-old registered his first possession of the night with a looping 20 metre handball to Travis Cloke on was running hard on the boundary line.

“Of course I was nervous but to get that first possession out of the way is always good.”

The last time Sidebottom played at the Docklands was in last year’s TAC Cup grand final when he kicked 10 goals for the Murray Bushrangers. His impact for the Magpies on Friday night was equally as impressive, finishing the match with 19 disposals, seven marks and using the ball with 90% efficiency.

“I like playing here. It was good to be back.”

The young Magpie was all smiles after the match, the sheer thrill of pulling on the jumper and playing for the club was not lost on him.

“This is the biggest crowd I have played in front of. It’s just a buzz. I love it.”

 

[senrulzisback]

Does anyone know when he will get a game?

 

[Dave The Man]

Does anyone know when he will get a game?

I reckon by RD 10

 

[senrulzisback]

I reckon by RD 10

 

[smiddaz123]

Named on the extended bench for the Round 7 game against St Kilda.

 

[smiddaz123]

Made his debut and managed 22 touches on debut.

He was one of few who at least tried to compose himself and spot up a target.

Hopefully more to come.

 

[artic]

Steele Sidebottom will be a Collingwood great and futrue captain. The kid has class

 

[smiddaz123]

In the Buddy draft I took him extremely early, because he was the kid I've been most excited about when drafted (and I'm a Thomas groupie).

His footy smarts stood out above everyone else's in the underage competitions, and imo his pace and size were the only things stopping him being in the top 3 drafted last year.

These attributes stood out at AFL level, despite his athletic and physical attributes being what they are. Get some bulk on him, and he'll be as important to us as Pendlebury is.

Let's make it two BOG performances in a row Steele.

 

[WinOrLoseILoveEm]

Made his debut and managed 22 touches on debut.

He was one of few who at least tried to compose himself and spot up a target.

Hopefully more to come.

Watching Sidey on TEN's Before the Game Grand Final Special last night I felt this irrational and exaggerated swell of pride (tragic) and some anticipation after seeing Sidey show some mundane kicking skills in an obstacle course featuring two other young players. In the Hawthorn Hangover Round of the competition, while the other spuds were spraying kicks well above Buddy's huge cartoon grin Sidey missed a couple then kicked a lovely low punt to knock out Buddy's front teeth. Off to utube to see whether the kick ended up on utube and ended up watching Highlights of #2 in the 2008 TAC Cup. He does some great things by foot.

I hope Foxtel has some good replays during the summer months.
Go Cats!