Player Watch Steele Sidebottom

[Black_White]

Is there actually a question around Sidey being elite? Been an A grade mid for a long time but last couple of years the consistency with which he does the exceptional surely rates him as elite. Apart from a disappointing grand final he proved again he is a big game player. More important to our team than Pendles last couple of years. Will make a great captain.

There are those within the Collingwood supporter group who would still like to see Sidey elsewhere.
That’ll never change because he has the occasional issue with turning the ball over.
Elite. No matter the naysayers.

 

[sr36]

Is there actually a question around Sidey being elite? Been an A grade mid for a long time but last couple of years the consistency with which he does the exceptional surely rates him as elite. Apart from a disappointing grand final he proved again he is a big game player. More important to our team than Pendles last couple of years. Will make a great captain.

He rocks. Second best player in our team. Just so so clever and so so good.

 

[Maggie5]

He rocks. Second best player in our team. Just so so clever and so so good.

The smiling assassin. I love him!

 

[sr36]

The smiling assassin. I love him!

Beyond his skill, which is extreme, some people just bring an infectious positivity to a team. I get the impression that Steele is one of those guys. Stephenson too.

 

[Maggie5]

Beyond his skill, which is extreme, some people just bring an infectious positivity to a team. I get the impression that Steele is one of those guys. Stephenson too.

I always loved him especially when he signed a long term contract and I reckon for a fair price and has stuck with the club through the highs and the lows.

 

[sr36]

I always loved him especially when he signed a long term contract and I reckon for a fair price and has stuck with the club through the highs and the lows.

I smiled the first time I heard his name and he hasn’t stopped making me smile since. He hasn't stopped smiling either. Even now he's a veteran, he still smiles with the joy of a little kid any time he or his teammates do something good. It's a joy to watch his joy.

 

[jathanas]

I've been a naysayer. Always loved him, but I'd get frustrated at what I perceived to be at times lazy disposal.

I was wrong. I focused too much on the little that he didn't do as I'd like instead of all the great things he does:

• Great reading of the play and situational awareness
• Exceptional skill on both sides
• Elite endurance
• Strong 1 on 1
• Underrated on-field leadership
• Loyal to the club

 

[sr36]

I've been a naysayer. Always loved him, but I'd get frustrated at what I perceived to be at times lazy disposal.

I was wrong. I focused too much on the little that he didn't do as I'd like instead of all the great things he does:

• Great reading of the play and situational awareness
• Exceptional skill on both sides
• Elite endurance
• Strong 1 on 1
• Underrated on-field leadership
• Loyal to the club

I don't think you were necessarily wrong. There were a few years there where he just wanted to be Alan Didak and do the really creative thing that was just in reach for Dids but just out of reach for Sidey, rather than taking the best option for Sidey. He's found his perfect balance of creativity versus solidity, which is adifferent balance to what Dids had.

 

[jathanas]

I don't think you were necessarily wrong. There were a few years there where he just wanted to be Alan Didak and do the really creative thing that was just in reach for Dids but just out of reach for Sidey, rather than taking the best option for Sidey. He's found his perfect balance of creativity versus solidity, which is adifferent balance to what Dids had.

Well observed. He doesn't do as many as those dinky little chips anymore does he?

He's at a stage in his journey where he has simplified/streamlined that part of his game to great effect.

 

[Black_White]

Congrats Steele.
Now start working on those F/S selections.

 

[Daicos Torpedo]

Congrats Steele.
Now start working on those F/S selections.

Congratulations on what?

 

[TradeDraft]

Don't know why he is tagged more often as he Easily Tagged out of Games

 

[jackcass]

Don't know why he is tagged more often as he Easily Tagged out of Games

Not too many taggers are as effective as the guy he copped tonight. Arguably the best in the league.

 

[Black_White]

Don't know why he is tagged more often as he Easily Tagged out of Games

I watch other teams who have elite midfielders tagged.
Those. Teams generally send other players to help and try to break the tag.
We don’t. We never have.
Im not sure if the coach doesn’t see the need, or doesn’t know how.
But its an issue that has to be addressed.

 

[TradeDraft]

I watch other teams who have elite midfielders tagged.
Those. Teams generally send other players to help and try to break the tag.
We don’t. We never have.
Im not sure if the coach doesn’t see the need, or doesn’t know how.
But its an issue that has to be addressed.

Harvey is the Mid Coach - So No Shock

 

[Help My Club]

Elite player who was at his dangerous best in 2010-11 as a small forward.

Put him back in there.

 

[sr36]

Don't know why he is tagged more often as he Easily Tagged out of Games

Totally agree. I don't know why he doesn't cop a tag every week. He's damaging without a tag and does little with a good one.

 

[kickitolachie]

The team has to understand that he does not have much impact when tagged and deal with it. Putting him in the full forward rotation might help break the tag, but in essence, the team has to be able to function when Sidebottom is taken out of it. At present they don't. The other midfielders have to take up the slack. At present, Pendlebury does all that he can, and Adams likewise. The others don't do enough.

 

[jackcass]

Totally agree. I don't know why he doesn't cop a tag every week. He's damaging without a tag and does little with a good one.

I think most teams opt to have someone go head-2-head rather than try to shut him down because most teams don't have someone as effective as De Boer at doing it. Tagging just went out of vogue.

 

[sr36]

I think most teams opt to have someone go head-2-head rather than try to shut him down because most teams don't have someone as effective as De Boer at doing it. Tagging just went out of vogue.

It's structures too. There's one less in your defensive/transition set up if you're running with a midfield tagger. I'd run with one though, you don't need as good a defensive structure or transition as often against the Pies if you keeep the ball out of Steele's hands.

 

[Robroy22]

I don't usually agree with much of what Nicky Dal says but he made a suggestion the other day that maybe Sidebottom could be used down back to help us restructure in the wake of Howie's injury. He likens Sidey as being able to play the role that Simpson has played for Carlton and that Houli and Saad play for their teams. He reckons that Steele has the smarts to become a general down back and with his vision, ball skills and endurance he could set up play for us from behind the ball for the next 4-5 years.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I dunno about that. Lacks the necessary penetration in his kicking. Need flatter, harder kicks coming out of the backline to reduce air time (hang time) and not give opposition forwards time to get across and spoil.

 

[ThePhantom777]

Makes it a bit easier for oppo to targer Sidey when Treloar isn't playing.

 

[jackcass]

I don't usually agree with much of what Nicky Dal says but he made a suggestion the other day that maybe Sidebottom could be used down back to help us restructure in the wake of Howie's injury. He likens Sidey as being able to play the role that Simpson has played for Carlton and that Houli and Saad play for their teams. He reckons that Steele has the smarts to become a general down back and with his vision, ball skills and endurance he could set up play for us from behind the ball for the next 4-5 years.

With the 6-6-6 set up he also needs to be able to mind an opponent. Not sure that plays to his strengths. But I did think the same of Fasolo and he made a better fist of it than I thought possible, so who knows.

 

[sr36]

With the 6-6-6 set up he also needs to be able to mind an opponent. Not sure that plays to his strengths. But I did think the same of Fasolo and he made a better fist of it than I thought possible, so who knows.

Sidey's fine in a one on one. And teams don't really play 6 forwards, they're just forced to start that way and then one becomes an extra mid or defender. I'd be happy for him to be a spare in defence. I reckon he'd cut teams up, but it'd be short lived because he'd be so dangereous that he'd get a tagger anyway. Sidey's problem is that he's too good to not be tagged, but not good enough to shake a tag.