Collingwood is enjoying a season worth remembering for the first time in a long time, and at the centre of it all has been long-term devotee Steele Sidebottom.
After 15 rounds, Collingwood sits in the second spot with ten wins and just four losses in a campaign which many predicted would end in a bottom four finish and the departure of senior coach Nathan Buckley.
One of the many important tools in Collingwood’s ability to defy the critics have been their midfielders and soon to be 200-plus gamer Steele Sidebottom.
A premiership medallist in 2010, Sidebottom has slowly but surely impacted the Brownlow Medal count at an increased rate since being drafted in 2009 – collecting 58 votes in his 199 game career.
Sidebottom collected a career-high 14 votes last year – but fell comfortably short of winner Dustin Martin (Richmond) with a record-breaking 36-vote haul.
Sidebottom is yet to miss a game for the Pies this season and is averaging 30.9 disposals per game (10.8 contested/20.2 uncontested) to go with 5.1 marks a game, 4.4 inside 50s and 3.9 tackles. Sidebottom has also booted 8.11 in front of the big sticks.
In the hunt for individual accolades, Sidebottom will be up against some stiff competition.
With Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe eliminated from contention as a result of a suspension, the bookies favourite for the Brownlow Medal is Hawthorn ball magnet Tom Mitchell by a country mile.
Hawthorn’s Mitchell is averaging a staggering 35.4 disposals per game (16.1 contested/19.6 uncontested) to go with 8.4 clearances, 6.3 score involvements, 5.9 tackles and 4.9 inside 50s.
You really do need to use your imagination to justify Mitchell losing it from here – but who knows? Injury, suspension? Both are easy to envision if you try hard enough.
Mitchell already came close in swiping North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein behind play earlier in the year.
After Mitchell, the next best is bet is looking like Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, North Melbourne’s Shaun Higgins, Melbourne’s Max Gawn, West Coast’s Andrew Gaff and then the Richmond duo of Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Sidebottom is currently the highest ranked Collingwood player at ninth.
Collingwood’s midfield itself may be another obstacle separating Sidebottom from the Charlie.
Collingwood’s midfield unit has been sensational this season with skipper Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Tom Phillips, Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy and Jordan De Goey all joining with Sidebottom to lead the way at various stage.
But with Treloar gone for some time via injury, the stage is set for Sidebottom to spend even more time under the spotlight. If he gets on a roll in the lead up to September – who knows what’s possible?
I’ve got Sidebottom on at least 15 votes at this stage of the season. Three votes for the 35-disposal and three-goal effort victory against Carlton in Round 3.
Another three votes in a staggering Round 4 win against Adelaide, collecting 43 touches, 12 clearances and seven tackles in hallmark performance on the road for the Pies.
Chalk up three more votes in Round 7 against Brisbane in what I think was the best game of the season so far. 34 touches, six touches and four inside 50s in a big win – although Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko might swipe the three and leave Sidebottom with the two here.
Three more votes for Sidebottom in Round 9 against St Kilda where he had 38 disposals, six clearances and five inside 50s in an important win.
Sidebottom has a strong chance at another three votes in Round 11 against Fremantle – 37 touches at the MCG to go with plenty of tackles and inside 50s.
Although Collingwood’s Phillips did notch up 30-plus touches and three goals, Steele may take the two again here.
But either way, Sidebottom is already comfortably in double-digit territory with Treloar gone and Collingwood building more momentum heading into the second half of the season and towards finals.
The Brownlow Medal is a very real possibility for 27-year-old Sidebottom in 2018 if a few choice things swing his way.
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