Every football club has its heart-and-soul types, the ones who bring everyone together and make the club a better place just by their presence.

Every football club also has its legends, the undisputed champions whose on-field achievements eclipse most others.

And every football club has its fan favourites, the players who supporters take to their hearts and with whom they form a special connection.

But very, very few football clubs have one player who is all three of those at the same time. And that’s where the Collingwood Football Club has been blessed to have Steele Sidebottom.

As we come to terms with Sidey’s impending retirement, it’s worth reflecting on what a remarkable influence he has had on this place.

The on-field component of that influence is relatively easy to assess. His 373 games (with still a few more to add) is the second most on record. He’s won two Copeland Trophies (and podiumed on three other occasions) and one All-Australian. He’s one of only four Magpies to have won multiple Anzac Day Medals. He’s one of only five Magpies since the Second World War to have been a part of two Premierships.

That’s an impressive footballing CV, one that rightly places him at the pointy end of considerations when discussing the best Collingwood players of all-time.

But beyond the stats there has also been the pleasure of watching him play. He’s one of the smartest and most skilful players we’ve ever seen in a Collingwood jumper. He’s up there with Peter Daicos as the best dual-sided player we’ve seen. His hands are ridiculously clean, and he has an understated mastery of the ball that you often only truly appreciate when you watch replays on TV.

He’s got massive footy smarts, great vision and an almost supernatural awareness of what’s going on around him. Plus a freakish running capacity that would leave others trailing in his wake, whether it be pre-season time trials or matchdays.

His goal sense is second to none, something we’ve known since his fabled 10-goal performance in the 2008 TAC Cup Grand Final. Snap shots, set shots, goals on the run, left-foot, right foot, dribblers, goals from near the centre circle in the dying minutes of a Grand Final – you name it. And most of them followed by elite-level celebrations that reflected what seemed to be an almost child-like enjoyment of playing footy.

That’s another reason fans loved him so much. He was a great player, sure, but he also looked like he loved playing the game. He was always smiling, always looking like a bloke who was just enjoying a game of footy in the bush with his mates. He radiated joy, and that was infectious.

And if you were fortunate enough to meet him at a Club function, or while getting him to sign a jumper after training, you’d quickly see the same traits. The same smile, the same easygoing nature, the same way of treating everyone equally. As Jeremy Howe said last week, Sidey is the most humble superstar the game has ever produced. No wonder we love him.

When Sidey announced his retirement last week we also got an insight into the impact he has had internally. Watching Pendles and Howie in tears as they tried to explain what Steele has meant to them, and to this football club, you soon realised that he is no ordinary teammate. He has been one of the ‘glue guys’, the heartbeat of this football club.

So let’s savour these last few opportunities to watch Steele Sidebottom play. A champion player, a champion teammate and – most importantly of all – a champion person. Thanks for everything Sidey.