Player Watch Steele Sidebottom

[Matrix10]

Rather see games go into Poulter McRae than Sidey and WHE

Hear , hear , add Reef and Ruscoe also

 

[Markfs]

i know people are obsessed with this classification system where players are small forwards etc, but i'd play sidebotton any day in any role ahead of callum brown... but then again i'd play mason cox

18

Mason Cox

Age

34

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

as a small forward ahead of brown.

 

[AndrewShawble]

Meh, still think he’s offering plenty to be honest

 

[VinnieB]

I just had a quick look at his stats for this year, and I think it's reasonable that we sink the boots in...

Yeah I did take a look at them as well and he has really dropped off from last year. Hopefully he gets back to 20+

 

[Unknown Identity]

Needs to be shifted to a forward 50 role, has tremendous goal sense and knows how to lead, 10-12 touches and a couple of goals a game would be far beneficial than his 15-20 touches with poor disposal efficiency.

If he can't carve out a meaningful role doing that then yup.. will finish up at the end of the year you'd think.

 

[What is a cakewalk]

Meh, still think he’s offering plenty to be honest

Less touches this year but i think he has been more influential. Numbers look bad but he is making things happen, seems to be brave enough to kick to contest on transition which is something mcrae has said he wants more of. Pleased bcs i thought he was cooked.

 

[Horaceg]

Needs to be shifted to a forward 50 role, has tremendous goal sense and knows how to lead, 10-12 touches and a couple of goals a game would be far beneficial than his 15-20 touches with poor disposal efficiency.

If he can't carve out a meaningful role doing that then yup.. will finish up at the end of the year you'd think.

Sidey still has a bit to offer, more time forward would most likely give him a few more years, he’s crafty enough

 

[Bianconeri]

We should move Noble wing and bring Ruscoe in

 

[Markfs]

We should move Noble wing and bring Ruscoe in

we seem to be keeping ruscoe back as a secret weapon like dusty.... for a prelim

 

[peter9789]

Howe also.

Howe is contracted for 2023


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Mollythedolly]

Wouldn’t surprise to see him hang up the boots. Reckon we’ll have a few do the same.
It’s going to be a tough winter.

I’d actually be surprised if Sidey didn’t go around again. Only be 23 going into the 2023 season. I certainly wouldn’t mind if he did, even if it was to play predominantly VFL.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Yeah. Roughy could be another. Cox too or may look elsewhere.
WHE? Have no trade currency probably.

Cox was apparently ready to retire after 2021 season so wouldn’t be surprised if he actually retired. WHE going nowhere. Roughy a maybe.

 

[loki04]

WHE out.
Poulter in.
Sidebum fwd in whe role.
Poulter to Sidebum role.

 

[Mollythedolly]

It's a shame he won't get to 300 games but we can't carry him that far.

Disagree that we’re carrying him. Form has been a bit hot and cold but nowhere near as bad as some suggest imho.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Rather see games go into Poulter McRae than Sidey and WHE

You’re going to be disappointed I think.

 

[Doc1763]

Disagree that we’re carrying him. Form has been a bit hot and cold but nowhere near as bad as some suggest imho.

He needs another 28 games. Do you think he'll get there?

 

[OniAu]

You’re going to be disappointed I think.

No more disappointed than watching their output wither when games are on the line

 

[pz5151]

If he continues with us next year, what do you see as his best role?

It seems like the role the club has identified for him is to ensure we don't get more games into kids like Poulter and Macrae that would be much more beneficial. That and ensuring this salary cap issue is never fixed.

 

[Mollythedolly]

He needs another 28 games. Do you think he'll get there?

I reckon he will. Barring injury, has at least 14 this year. Even if he was a permanent sub in 2023, you’d think he’d get close to the other 14 games.

 

[rand corp]

Not the player he was but still doing ok. I also am aware you can't have a side full of kids, and its important to have experience around them. Having said that, Sidey is not going to be a part of our next flag tilt and I feel he needs to be 'managed' with the odd rest here and there to 'freshen up', whilst we play Poulter or McRae or even pick Nick D up on a wing. Unfortunately, outside of Nick Daicos, this year's crop of draftees hasn't shown much yet to warrant selection.

 

[pz5151]

Not the player he was but still doing ok. I also am aware you can't have a side full of kids, and its important to have experience around them. Having said that, Sidey is not going to be a part of our next flag tilt and I feel he needs to be 'managed' with the odd rest here and there to 'freshen up', whilst we play Poulter or McRae or even pick Nick D up on a wing. Unfortunately, outside of Nick Daicos, this year's crop of draftees hasn't shown much yet to warrant selection.

But we don't have a team full of kids. We're one of the older sides in the comp. They need to gradually move some of these guys like Sidebottom, Elliott (only if they get good value in a trade), Madgen, Cox who are old and not going to be in the next flag run.

They just need to hold onto the big bodied and experienced teachers like Howe and Roughead for example as the next gen isn't ready, and to keep leaders like Pendlebury around to set the high standards for the kids. The Pies are due for a big fall off the cliff in 2 or 3 years if they don't address this at the end of the year.

 

[sr36]

Would love to see one of the kids to take that wing role. Someone like Reef for instance. Just don’t know whether he has the stamina as yet.

Murley is the one. I think he'll be playing wing or half back in the seniors regularly as early as next year.

 

[Mollythedolly]

But we don't have a team full of kids. We're one of the older sides in the comp. They need to gradually move some of these guys like Sidebottom, Elliott (only if they get good value in a trade), Madgen, Cox who are old and not going to be in the next flag run.

They just need to hold onto the big bodied and experienced teachers like Howe and Roughead for example as the next gen isn't ready, and to keep leaders like Pendlebury around to set the high standards for the kids. The Pies are due for a big fall off the cliff in 2 or 3 years if they don't address this at the end of the year.

Our age profile is skewed with the regular inclusion of relatively inexperienced (for their age) players like Cameron, Cox, Checkers, Noble and Madgen. That’s 2 guys with <50 games and 3 at <100 games who are 26, 31, 29, 25 and 29 respectively.

We haven’t had less than 8 players with <50 games in any match this year.

 

[sr36]

Our age profile is skewed with the regular inclusion of relatively inexperienced (for their age) players like Cameron, Cox, Checkers, Noble and Madgen. That’s 2 guys with <50 games and 3 at <100 games who are 26, 31, 29, 25 and 29 respectively.

We haven’t had less than 8 players with <50 games in any match this year.

Yes, but inexperienced older guys aren't likely to play until they're older than experienced older guys - nor are they more likely to improve or maintain their level for the next few years than their more experienced teammates. So in terms of rebuilding and the future team, what's the relevance of their inexperience? Their age on the other hand has obvious implications. These guys don't skew our age profile - the age profile of our team is what it is.

 

[swoop42]

His current disposal average of 16.50 is his lowest since his debut 2009 season.

It's the first time he's dropped below 20 since 2011 and way down on his career best of 29.38 in 2018.

He's had a very good career but at 31 the end looks to be coming quickly just like it did for Didak in 2013 at age 30 and there is no disgrace in that.

You get the feeling he simply can't get up and down the ground as fast as he once could and with that it's harder for him to find space to receive the ball or out work an opponent to win the ball.

As numerous people have already mentioned his best hope now would seem a transition to the role of a creative small crumbing forward and I feel McRae needs to make this change sooner rather than later if he wishes to extend his career.