Steele Sidebottom

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

Steele Sidebottom came under notice with his football form with the Congupna juniors. He won selection and became a top player with the Murray Bushrangers. He was playing with the Bushrangers in the grand final of the TAC cup as a curtain raiser to the 2008 AFL Grand Final. Steel excelled that day in kicking ten goals, a feat that was well noticed by the talent scouts. He was selected to represent Country Victoria and following the Australian Championships he made the “All Australian” under 18 team. He was on the way to a stellar career. Collingwood took him as pick number 11 in the 2008 draft and Steele became a magpie. He made his AFL debut against St. Kilda in round 9 in 2009 and soon settled into the team as a worthy midfielder. It was a great era to join the Magpies. He had arrived as a top new talent. In a semi-final against Adelaide he notched up 25 disposals and gave an indication of what was to come. He was destined for a long career.

2010 was a big year as Steele played in both the drawn Grand Final and the replay and became a Collingwood Premiership competitor, as the youngest player in the team at 19. Steele became a most reliable player who had wonderful skills and kicked the ball with great accuracy. He was an automatic selection in the Magpies team and twice won the coveted Copeland trophy as the magpie’s best contender as well as winning the Anzac Day medal in 2016. He was appointed Collingwood’s Vice-Captain. A highlight of his career was his selection as an ‘All Australian’ in 2018. In best and fairest voting he was runner up in the 2018 Brownlow medal. Steele has amassed 264 games and has kicked 174 goals for Collingwood and has been one of the best performed players from the Goulburn Valley.

Welcome All Australian, Steele Sidebottom.