Robbo: Why Steele Sidebottom’s big night deserved a big penalty

The more information that comes to light on Steele Sidebottom’s booze-fuelled night, the more questions we are left with. We know the Collingwood president likes the full story being told. Will it come out here?

Steele Sidebottom and Collingwood had to expect a long suspension.

It’s like a Hangover sequel, where drinks are consumed, hours are lost and memory is vague.

Lucky, no one got hurt.

“His recollection isn’t that great,” Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said Wednesday of Steele Sidebottom.

When it gets to 7.30am and you’ve had a skinful of booze and you’re wandering the streets, wondering how you’re going to get home, that’s generally what happens.

Flashes of memory make it difficult to explain the full story and that’s why the Sidebottom bender still can’t be pieced together.

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Like, why didn’t Collingwood reveal in their statement on Tuesday night that Sidebottom was found by police at Sparrow’s and then driven home?

Did Collingwood omit that from the story to the public or did Sidebottom omit that from his story to Collingwood?

Like, why was Sidebottom partially naked in temperatures around two degrees, as one witness said.

Did Collingwood omit that from the story to the public or did Sidebottom omit that from his story to Collingwood?

Clearly his behaviour after leaving Daniel Wells’ house — which is somewhat of a blind spot — played a role in Wednesday’s penalties.

But some truths have emerged about that morning and we know the Collingwood president does like the full story being told.

Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom is a popular player but his actions were reckless.

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Sarcasm aside, let’s hope Sidebottom is in a reasonable space.

Buckley said on Wednesday the 12-year veteran’s behaviour was out of character.

“This is an event, not a pattern and we’re treating it as such,” the coach said.

“He’s suitably embarrassed and very contrite as you’d understand.”

At worst, Sidebottom was stupid and selfish. At best, he lost common sense the longer the bender played out and, again, that’s generally what happens when too many beers are consumed.

Still, a 7.30am finish would suggest Sidebottom not only has stamina on the field, but also off it.

You want to find sympathy for Sidebottom.

Visiting his great mate Jeremy Howe, whose season was harpooned by a serious knee injury the night before, is admiral and understanding.

Because that’s what great mates do.

The Collingwood veteran’s behaviour effectively put at risk a $400 million season.

But, at the same time, good mates haven’t been able to attend funerals in recent months, either, so what’s the definition of compassion?

What started with great intention by Sidebottom ended with great regret.

Let’s park the good bloke factor, even though it’s difficult to do so.

Sidebottom was punished, not for committing a crime, but for committing, at the moment, the AFL’s biggest sin.

In a night of ignoring responsibilities, he put at risk a $400 million season. That’s not an exaggeration.

Extrapolate events.

If Sidebottom or Lynden Dunn, who is also a deeply caring teammate, catch the virus and then take it into the club and affect teammates, the Pies are stood down.

The good news is Sidebottom and Dunn have been tested for coronavirus since the weekend and have both returned negative results.

But the Sidebottom situation comes as the AFL is trying to bust moves with the Western Australian, South Australian, Queensland and NSW governments.

On Wednesday the urgency of the situation hit home when it was announced that AFL players living in Melbourne’s coronavirus “hot spots” had been ordered to relocate to another suburb to be eligible to play games in New South Wales.

Players had to be out of their homes by midnight Wednesday.

That’s not urgency. That’s an emergency move.

Sidebottom has returned a negative result for COVID-19.

Sidebottom will miss four matches for his indiscretion.

And this is the backdrop to one of the league’s smartest footballers making an un-smart decision.

Make no mistake, the AFL was furious with Sidebottom. It believed some its players were not taking their return-to-play protocols seriously.

One and two-match bans for previous indiscretions, the most recent to Essendon’s Conor McKenna a week ago, clearly had not sent a strong enough message.

Sidebottom had to expect a longer suspension than the others. And the AFL was duty bound to deliver it because if it did not, the league would stand accused of not taking its own protocols seriously.

It clamped down on Adelaide’s Ben Hart for overseeing a training session which broke distancing rules in isolation in the Barossa Valley. Hart received six weeks.

Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines received a one-week suspension for doing a TV interview at his home.

Sidebottom broke several protocols while not remembering the events that took place. He is 29 and one of three vice-captains at the club.

The AFL has told its players it is a privilege to play Australian Rules and with that privilege comes responsibility.

Countless times it has told its players the protocols in place are to protect players and club staff and keep everyone safe.

Sidebottom threatened that safety.

For that, and to borrow a line from Allan Jeans, he has to pay the price.