Mick Malthouse writes Steele Sidebottom stands up in big games, just like Anzac Day
FROM a quiet, likeable young kid to the Pies’ leadership group, MICK MALTHOUSE writes that Steele Sidebottom has always loved the big stage. And another Anzac Day Medal could be in his sights.
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SHOULD either Steele Sidebottom or Joe Daniher claim the Anzac Day Medal on Wednesday, they’ll join an elite club of players who have won the award multiple times.
James Hird has won it three times. Sav Rocca, Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan each twice.
Sidebottom is Collingwood’s barometer player. Every team has one.
In the first few minutes of the game you can often tell by Sidebottom’s body language how well he will perform and in recent years that has been at a consistently high level.
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While Daniher’s form has been patchy this year, Sidebottom has been starring.
Steele was drafted at No.11 in 2008 and just two years later he played in a Magpie premiership.
Collingwood’s national recruiting manager, Derek Hine, showed me footage of several players before our first pick in 2008.
Steele had just come off an outstanding TAC Cup finals series for the Murray Bushrangers, kicking 10 goals in the grand final.
I love players who can perform on the big stage — many don’t — and that’s about as big a stage you can play on at that age.
“Rusty” has always been a big-game performer, a trait he displayed early through his strong performance in the 2010 Grand Final replay as a 19-year-old.
That ability has also shone through during his seven games on one of the code’s biggest stages — Anzac Day against Essendon.
He is blessed with outstanding endurance. In his first pre-season at Collingwood he won the 2km time-trial and in my time there he was never beaten.
He was a very likeable young kid when he joined the Pies, but he probably stood back a little bit, not wanting to be noticed too much.
Steele has always been well liked by his teammates because he’s friendly and genuine and a happy lad who includes everyone. An outstanding young man who is now firmly entrenched as a leader at Collingwood in his 10th season at the club.
One of the most enduring images I have of him is from half an hour after our premiership win in 2010. I had some quiet time with my family in the coaches’ address room and just one photo was taken of all us together with the cup.
In the background is a flying figure with arms in the air and a big grin. Steele!
It was typical behaviour of a cheeky young fellow from Congupna, with a smile constantly plastered on his face.
No doubt he learned a lot about football and competitiveness from his four older brothers, Joshua, Tyson, Trent and Ryan, with scrimmages in the backyard.
At 27, he has many years of good football ahead of him.
Last week he sat on Adelaide’s Rory Sloane for a lot of the time and beat him comprehensively, while picking up 43 disposals himself.
Wednesday’s Anzac Day clash will be won or lost in the centre.
Collingwood’s talls, Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox, will present an enormous challenge for the Bombers, in particular Tom Bellchambers and Daniher.
Zach Merrett was influential last week for Essendon, so I would not be surprised to see Sidebottom go to him.
Although Dyson Heppell was the higher possession getter against Port Adelaide, he didn’t use the ball well enough to be deemed the best midfielder going into this game.
The Bombers will need Daniher to play forward, but he also needs his freedom.
His athleticism around the ground is only matched by Grundy.
The Bombers’ forward line looks a lot different without Cale Hooker and yet he can be a valued player forward of centre. But with James Stewart and Daniher as the talls, and Jake Stringer as the medium tall, that’s ample enough to put the heat on the Magpies’ backline, and that allows Hooker to play like he did last week as a tall defender.
Grundy has taken his ruck work to a new level and his running goal against Adelaide last round was one of the best you’ll see.
He won’t come head-to-head with Daniher too often, but when they do, look out.
Daniher is not in the same form he was in at the end of last year, but there were good indicators against the Power that point to him being ready for a breakout game.
Collingwood has systematically destroyed its last two opponents with run and ball-getting ability, scoring with relative ease.
The Magpies miss Jamie Elliott, but young Jaidyn Stephenson was exceptional with his five goals against Adelaide.
Essendon kicked 16 goals against Port and with Orazio Fantasia back in attack it looks more formidable, though there are reports Fantasia is battling groin soreness and could be in doubt to play the Magpies.
I always refer to Anzac Day as an occasion more than a game, with everyone there to respect and honour our military history. It brings out the best in the competing teams as they respond to the significance of the day.
This is the first time in a long while that both clubs enter this blockbuster in form, which makes for an even more mouth-watering clash.
There will be football heroics. There will be triumph and despair. And don’t be surprised if Steele Sidebottom’s name ends up on the Anzac Day Medal again.
MAN OF STEELE: SIDEBOTTOM’S SUPER BIG-GAME RECORD
GRAND FINALS
Year Disp Gls Result Rank pts
2010 19 - D 78
2010 Rematch 25 2 W 143
2011 23 2 L 121
Average: 114.0
ANZAC DAY
Year Disp Gls Result Rank pts
2010 16 - W 70
2011 13 1 W 58
2012 28 1 W 104
2013 31 1 L 136
2014 26 3 W 139
2015 DNP
2016 33 4 W 166
2017 25 1 L 81
Average: 107.7
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Originally published as Mick Malthouse writes Steele Sidebottom stands up in big games, just like Anzac Day