Opinion Sidebottom

[dubber]

One of the most frustrating players to watch in our side, only Sharrod came close to making me go this mad. His kicking used to be used, is now poor. Used to be reliable goal kicker, gone backwards. Only 23 but Beams has gone past him, Kennedy is also on track to surpass him.

Play him at half forward & see if he can regain his touch and goal kicking radar.

 

[Maggie5]

One of the most frustrating players to watch in our side, only Sharrod came close to making me go this mad. His kicking used to be used, is now poor. Used to be reliable goal kicker, gone backwards. Only 23 but Beams has gone past him, Kennedy is also on track to surpass him.

Play him at half forward & see if he can regain his touch and goal kicking radar.

I really feel the same one my my favourite players and I recall games where he has kicked multiple goals, not sure where he plays now or what is role is.

 

[TheBigReg]

Been saying this for a while.. He is a smart creative high half forward who can actually deliver a decent ball into our forward line.. He gets lost in the midfield and is nowhere near as effective out on a wing or at half back or at a center bounce. Not yet a true midfielder.

I tend to agree with doodles, i think he plays his best footy in that half forward role occasionally swapping into the midfield. He also seems to be one of the few guys on the list who actually knows how to crumb the key forwards. I honestly think if you had him, dwyer and white in that half forward line it completely changes the dynamics for the better

 

[DaicosianMarvels]

Should have traded him to Essendon when they wanted him last time. His value would have dropped significantly now where I think the best we can get for him is a second round pick. Last two years and the first game this year should have been the time when he was reaching his peak but he is getting worse and worse every year.

 

[iGNITER]

Needs to play Half forward.
This is his best position IMO.

 

[SpongePie]

Needs to play Half forward.
This is his best position IMO.

Agreed. I think he plays his best there.

And to the poster who said he is as frustrating as Sharrod was... I totally agree. So much potential that doesn't seem to be fulfilled. (PS I do miss Sharrod).

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

He played every game for the year with an average of 24 disposals. If that's not consistent what is?

People keep spouting these opinions about Sidey such as: 'incosistent' 'Doesn't impact games' 'hasn't improved as a player' even when the evidence doesn't add up.

As far as I can tell he averaged 2.5 less disposals in 2013, probably because Ball came back and he was trialled in about 3 different positions other than the midfield.

2013: avg 24.1 disposals
2012: avg 26.5 disposals
2011: avg 19.6 disposals
2010: avg 18.5
2009: avg 15.2
If people are expecting him to be as good as Swan Beams or Pendles, then you are kidding yourself. That doesn't happen. The kid is a solid A grade gun, not A+ or elite. He is reliable and durable and always plays his role consistently. He would easily be in our top ten players.

He is not a line breaker or a booming kick, what he is is in the right place at the right time. I suspect those saying he doesn't impact the game enough anymore are just remembering when he used to play forward more. I agree he should be kept at half forward, but even when he isn't he is still providing a link up option or a timely tackle around the ground, these skills are important to a team's structure.

Talk of trading him is silly, who is going to take his spot? It's not like we can't possibly find a spot for him or that he's holding anyone better out of the side. I can think of a dozen players we should trade before Steele.

Oh yeah, he turned 23 this January.

23!!! FFS! Relax and embrace one of our most consistent players.

 

[jmac70]

People keep spouting these opinions about Sidey such as: 'incosistent' 'Doesn't impact games' 'hasn't improved as a player' even when the evidence doesn't add up.

As far as I can tell he averaged 2.5 less disposals in 2013, probably because Ball came back and he was trialled in about 3 different positions other than the midfield.

2013: avg 24.1 disposals
2012: avg 26.5 disposals
2011: avg 19.6 disposals
2010: avg 18.5
2009: avg 15.2
If people are expecting him to be as good as Swan Beams or Pendles, then you are kidding yourself. That doesn't happen. The kid is a solid A grade gun, not A+ or elite. He is reliable and durable and always plays his role consistently. He would easily be in our top ten players.

He is not a line breaker or a booming kick, what he is is in the right place at the right time. I suspect those saying he doesn't impact the game enough anymore are just remembering when he used to play forward more. I agree he should be kept at half forward, but even when he isn't he is still providing a link up option or a timely tackle around the ground, these skills are important to a team's structure.

Talk of trading him is silly, who is going to take his spot? It's not like we can't possibly find a spot for him or that he's holding anyone better out of the side. I can think of a dozen players we should trade before Steele.

Oh yeah, he turned 23 this January.

23!!! FFS! Relax and embrace one of our most consistent players.

Totally agree. It's not like we have a host of players ready to take his spot and at 23 there is plenty of development left in him.

 

[jonbe54]

Totally agree. It's not like we have a host of players ready to take his spot and at 23 there is plenty of development left in him.

He just appears to be treading water at the moment jster, needs a kick up the arse and a quiet word.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

I would like to Sidebottom become this team 'new' tagger/run with player for this season.

He is obviously an upgrade on Macaffer skill wise and he has the elite endurance to do the job. And also he has been one of our best tacklers over the past few seasons.

 

[mike123]

I would like to Sidebottom become this team 'new' tagger/run with player for this season.

He is obviously an upgrade on Macaffer skill wise and he has the elite endurance to do the job. And also he has been one of our best tacklers over the past few seasons.

I would love that

 

[Shade]

People keep spouting these opinions about Sidey such as: 'incosistent' 'Doesn't impact games' 'hasn't improved as a player' even when the evidence doesn't add up.

As far as I can tell he averaged 2.5 less disposals in 2013, probably because Ball came back and he was trialled in about 3 different positions other than the midfield.

2013: avg 24.1 disposals
2012: avg 26.5 disposals
2011: avg 19.6 disposals
2010: avg 18.5
2009: avg 15.2
If people are expecting him to be as good as Swan Beams or Pendles, then you are kidding yourself. That doesn't happen. The kid is a solid A grade gun, not A+ or elite. He is reliable and durable and always plays his role consistently. He would easily be in our top ten players.

He is not a line breaker or a booming kick, what he is is in the right place at the right time. I suspect those saying he doesn't impact the game enough anymore are just remembering when he used to play forward more. I agree he should be kept at half forward, but even when he isn't he is still providing a link up option or a timely tackle around the ground, these skills are important to a team's structure.

Talk of trading him is silly, who is going to take his spot? It's not like we can't possibly find a spot for him or that he's holding anyone better out of the side. I can think of a dozen players we should trade before Steele.

Oh yeah, he turned 23 this January.

23!!! FFS! Relax and embrace one of our most consistent players.

It's not all about getting the ball its the fact he is never damaging with it.

Plenty of players over the years rack up touches and not do much with the footy im afraid he is one of them.

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

It's not all about getting the ball its the fact he is never damaging with it.

Plenty of players over the years rack up touches and not do much with the footy im afraid he is one of them.

Last year He averaged mid seventies for disposal by foot and mid eighties for disposal, by hand. So if you don't find hitting a target damaging, then yeah, I suppose he isn't.

 

[mike123]

Last year He averaged mid seventies for disposal by foot and mid eighties for disposal, by hand. So if you don't find hitting a target damaging, then yeah, I suppose he isn't.

Allot of the times when i saw him get the ball he'd hold it up for a while and do a non dangerous low risk pass that slows down our momentum and and allows the opposition to flood back.

 

[MagpieBat]

Last year He averaged mid seventies for disposal by foot and mid eighties for disposal, by hand. So if you don't find hitting a target damaging, then yeah, I suppose he isn't.

How many of them were dinky little chip kicks up over the top to a man 15 metres away though? Or sideways/backwards passes to a man all on his own (because the opposition were getting numbers back)?

Sidebottom is/was one of, if not THE, worst offender in that respect.

No surprise his disposal efficiency numbers were high.

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

How many of them were dinky little chip kicks up over the top to a man 15 metres away though? Or sideways/backwards passes to a man all on his own (because the opposition were getting numbers back)?

Sidebottom is/was one of, if not THE, worst offender in that respect.

No surprise his disposal efficiency numbers were high.

So Pendles is a non damaging player as well then? Or Gary Ablett? They are two players that rack up stats doing exactly that.

It's an underrated skill to have a link up player that can gut run all day and provide a short option. Especially in today's game as well as our team which is terrible by foot.

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

Allot of the times when i saw him get the ball he'd hold it up for a while and do a non dangerous low risk pass that slows down our momentum and and allows the opposition to flood back.

I believe this may be game plan related. Look at any of our forward entries from the last game.

 

[MagpieBat]

So Pendles is a non damaging player as well then? Or Gary Ablett? They are two players that rack up stats doing exactly that.

It's an underrated skill to have a link up player that can gut run all day and provide a short option. Especially in today's game as well as our team which is terrible by foot.

Sidebottom has made it an art form though.

Don't think you can compare him to Pendles and Gaz either. They actually hurt when they get the ball. Sidebottom does not.

 

[piedpiper32]

So Pendles is a non damaging player as well then? Or Gary Ablett? They are two players that rack up stats doing exactly that.

It's an underrated skill to have a link up player that can gut run all day and provide a short option. Especially in today's game as well as our team which is terrible by foot.

MagpieBat was referring to Sidebottom's propensity to go for little chip kicks and short passes which naturally would lead to a higher disposal efficiency rather than the long passes that have a much smaller margin of error. Nobody is disputing that he can gut run and provide short options for others to pass to him, but when he gets the ball he is not as damaging as others or anywhere near as creative or skillful at winning contested ball as Pendlebury or Ablett who you mention.

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

Sidebottom has made it an art form though.

Don't think you can compare him to Pendles and Gaz either. They actually hurt when they get the ball. Sidebottom does not.

Gas and Pendles have about five to ten possessions in a game that are insanely talented and damaging. For the rest of the time they just rack up smaller dinky disposals like you are accusing SS of. Would they be as good if they only had those damaging possessions?

Steele is being sold a bit short on this thread. He quite often kicks over 20 metres accurately. His possessions aren't all match winners, but he uses it well and can be creative when needed. He would be much better used near goal where his play reading would result in many goals. But given our lack of fitness and two way running, we are forced to play him along the wing and half back to provide a link up option.

 

[MagpieBat]

Gas and Pendles have about five to ten possessions in a game that are insanely talented and damaging. For the rest of the time they just rack up smaller dinky disposals like you are accusing SS of. Would they be as good if they only had those damaging possessions?

Steele is being sold a bit short on this thread. He quite often kicks over 20 metres accurately. His possessions aren't all match winners, but he uses it well and can be creative when needed. He would be much better used near goal where his play reading would result in many goals. But given our lack of fitness and two way running, we are forced to play him along the wing and half back to provide a link up option.

Unlike Sidebottom though, they actually win their own ball on a consistently high basis.

I fully agree that Sidebottom is best utilized in the front half of the ground, but even then he is a chronically overrated player.