STEELE Sidebottom is close to signing a five-year deal worth about $2.75 million to stay at Collingwood.
Sidebottom, 25, is set to reject rival free agency offers and commit to the Pies until the end of 2021.
An announcement is expected before the club’s Round 1 clash with Sydney.
But the Magpies’ pre-season momentum has been stalled by a
back injury to star small forward Jamie Elliott.
“He’s got what we call a pars defect,” Magpies football boss Neil Balme said.
“We’re going to take him out of the program for three or four weeks and not do the genuine footy stuff.”
Elliott, 23, missed matches last season because of a stress reaction in his back.
“It is similar but not the same,” Balme told the club website. “We’ve got to settle it down and make sure he’s okay.”
Adam Treloar (groin) and Jeremy Howe (finger) will also miss the Pies’ opening NAB Challenge clash against Geelong at Simonds Stadium tomorrow night, but James Aish has been selected.
Brent Macaffer will play his first game since rupturing his ACL in August 2014.
Sidebottom’s signature will leave suspended Essendon big man Cale Hooker as footy’s highest-profile free agent.
Daniel Rich, a restricted free agent at the end of the season, is poised to sign a four-year deal to stay at Brisbane.
- Herald Sun.