STEELE HAS BALL IN HIS NEW ROLE
AFL: Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom admits he loves the ball in his hands and the numbers back him up.
Particularly during September.
If Richmond fans weren’t having nightmares about Mason Cox after last year’s preliminary final, they were certainly having them about Sidebottom.
His 41-possession game, when the Tigers did not see the need to put a hard tag on him, was instrumental in the Magpies’ shock ambush of the Tigers.
The 232-gamer has long-been considered a September specialist and his 2018 finals campaign was elite, despite being well held in the grand final by Eagle Mark Hutchings.
Geelong will no doubt be on high alert in tonight’s qualifying final, and Sidebottom said he could not wait for his return to the big stage in his favourite month of the year.
“It’s why you play footy, to play finals footy,” Sidebottom said.
“To be sitting where we now are is exciting, and I know the guys can’t wait for Friday night.”
A big question for coach Nathan Buckley is what exactly he does with Sidebottom tonight.
Last September, Sidebottom did his damage predominantly from the wing, but he has played a bit of a different role this season.
“It (the role) has changed a little bit, I’ve probably played a little bit more forward this year than maybe last,” he said.
“I guess we’ve probably had a few more guys that have been able to go through the middle this year as well. I’m just out there trying to contribute every week and it doesn’t matter where I’m playing.” CATS V MAGPIES NICK RIEWOLDT