Steele Sidebottom will become just the second Pie to reach 350 games when he lines up on Thursday night against Hawthorn, three years after teammate Scott Pendlebury became the first.
The 35-year-old joins the absolute elite of Australian Football history, becoming just the 26th player in VFL/AFL history to reach the 350-game mark.
Drafted with pick 11 in the 2008 National Draft from Congupna in Victoria’s north, it didn’t start all that gloriously for Sidebottom in his time at the Pies.
Becoming Collingwood player 1082 in Round 7, 2009 against St Kilda, the Pies would’ve been blown out of the then-named Etihad Stadium if not for the roof, losing by 88 points.
But the skinny kid in the number 22, made famous by Collingwood greats Tony Shaw and Bob Rose, could hold his head high, collecting that same number of disposals in his inaugural outing.
The next week wasn’t much better, going down by 51 points to a Blues team that didn’t make finals that year.
But the Pies and Sidebottom would turn it around in 2009, with the then-18-year-old suiting up for his first AFL finals campaign. He delivered a stunning breakout performance in the Semi Final victory over Adelaide, collecting 25 disposals and laying 10 tackles.
Ultimately Collingwood lost to eventual premiers Geelong in the Preliminary Final, but the building blocks were there, and Sidebottom was firmly part of that foundation.
Establishing his ability to win the footy in the initial stages of his sophomore season, it was in his 18th career game where Sidebottom made the AFL world stop and take notice. He kicked five goals in Round 7, 2010 against North Melbourne – a mark that remains today as his career-high.
It was a sign of things to come in 2010 for Sidebottom, who booted 24 goals in 25 matches, including seven in four finals games. It was capped off in the most brilliant fashion with Sidebottom winning his first AFL Premiership at just 19-years-old – Collingwood’s youngest player afield.
Booting two goals and collecting 25 disposals, the young star placed second in the North Smith Medal for best-on-ground in the Replay behind Pendlebury, earning eight of a possible 15 votes.
Following the 2010 Premiership, Sidebottom and the Pies continued their dominance into 2011, winning 22 of their 25 games. There was just one problem: Geelong. The Cats inflicted each of Collingwood’s three losses that year and overcame the Pies by 38 points in Sidebottom’s third AFL Grand Final. At this stage, he had a rare even ledger of one win, one draw and one loss.
Regardless of the result, Sidebottom displayed his class with another exceptional Grand Final performance, this time accumulating 23 disposals, seven tackles and two goals.
The 25 goals Sidebottom booted in 2011 remains his best return for a season, as Mick Malthouse’s departure and Nathan Buckley's installation as Collingwood head coach led to a new midfield role.
After averaging almost 20 disposals and a goal in his first two full seasons, the increased midfield minutes in 2012 would see Sidebottom transform into a ball magnet, averaging over 26 disposals per game.
In Round 7 against Brisbane, Sidebottom would collect 30 or more disposals for the first time in his AFL career, amassing 35 to go with two goals, only to better it the next week against Geelong with 38.
The new role under Buckley eventuated in selection on the wing in the inaugural 22Under22 team in 2012. And it’s in this position that Sidebottom would become renowned for mastering.
In a season where he would rack up his 100th match in a Round 16 win over Adelaide, Sidebottom continued to establish himself as a key cog in the Collingwood team in 2013.
This was signalled by his first podium finish in the Best & Fairest, claiming the J.J. Joyce Trophy for third behind Pendlebury and Dane Swan.
He was also again selected in his second 22Under22 team, this time named on the half-back-flank.
After running third in 2013, Sidebottom would go one better in the Pies’ 2014 Best & Fairest, claiming the R.T. Rush Trophy for runner-up behind Pendlebury.
While he averaged then-career-highs in disposals (26.8), contested possessions (9.5) and inside 50s (3.3), it would ultimately be a disappointing season for Sidebottom with Collingwood missing finals for the first time in his career.
Now 24 and with two podium finishes in the Best & Fairest under his belt, Sidebottom was elevated into the leadership group for the first time and made vice-captain for the 2015 season. It’s a position he would remain in until 2022.
Sidebottom endured one of the longest layoffs of his career this year, sustaining a broken thumb in the Round 1 win over the Lions which ruled him out for six games. Yet the injury didn’t stop him from claiming fifth in the Copeland Trophy.
With multiple player signings over the off-season, Sidebottom and Collingwood entered 2016 with high hopes, but they were quickly extinguished with an 80-point loss to Sydney in Round 1. Ahead of Round 5’s Anzac Day clash, the Pies only had a one-point victory over a lowly Richmond to their name.
In front of 85,082 – the biggest crowd Collingwood played before in 2016 – Sidebottom had a career-best performance, kicking three goals in the first quarter to set the win up for the Pies early. He would go on to boot four goals, collect 33 disposals and was awarded his first Anzac Day Medal for best afield.
While Collingwood didn’t feature in finals again, Steele capped off another successful individual season with his third podium finish in the Best & Fairest, claiming his second J.J. Joyce Trophy.
Finally, after a trio of top three finishes in Collingwood’s Best & Fairest, 2017 was the year Steele broke through for his maiden Copeland Trophy. Playing in all 22 matches, Steele averaged 27.2 disposals, 4.2 tackles and 3.5 clearances.
Stand-out performances came against Port Adelaide (36 disposals), Western Bulldogs (35 disposals, two goals), Brisbane (34 disposals and one goal) and Melbourne (32 disposals and two goals). Notably, he didn’t have a game with less than 20 disposals.
But the best was Steele to come. 2018 will be remembered as the year it finally clicked on-field for Collingwood under Buckley after four consecutive years without featuring in finals. And Magpie fans will also remember it for being Steele’s prime year.
In a year where he achieved the 200-game milestone in Round 16 against Essendon, the individual honours stacked up. Second Copeland Trophy. Runner-up in the Brownlow Medal. Gary Ayers Medal for Best Player in Finals. All-Australian.
He also had his career-high disposal game (43) v Adelaide in Round 4, contributing to his highest disposal season with 764 disposals. This is the fourth most for a Collingwood player in a season, behind only Dane Swan (twice) and Adam Treloar.
And who could forget his best-on-ground performance in the 2018 Preliminary Final against a rollicking Richmond team fresh off the 2017 premiership? Steele collected 41 disposals, five clearances and three goal assists to help the Pies defeat the reigning premiers and seal his fourth Grand Final appearance.
The 35 uncontested possessions he had that night remains a Collingwood record for most uncontested possessions in a match.
With a Grand Final showing under their belt, Collingwood entered 2019 as a flag fancy. While they made it deep into the finals, it would again be heartache for Steele and the Pies, losing to the GIANTS by four points in the Preliminary Final.
With COVID effecting both 2020 and 2021, it proved to be a hurdle in Steele’s career. Finishing the 2021 season at 17th, it was the lowest the Pies and Steele have ever completed a season. And with Buckley standing down as coach, it was looking to be a transformational period for the Pies.
But with Craig McRae's appointment, it proved to rejuvenate Steele, as the Pies spring-boarded back up the ladder thanks to a run of 11 consecutive wins throughout the middle of 2022. Despite a stunning late goal in the Preliminary Final v Sydney, Steele ultimately missed out on a fifth Grand Final berth by a solitary point.
But there was still plenty to celebrate, as Steele became both a Collingwood Life Member and AFL Life Member for 300 total AFL games.
Steele became just the fourth Collingwood player to notch 300 games after Gordon Coventry, Shaw and Pendlebury when the Pies defeated the Roos in Round 11, 2023. But that wouldn’t be Steele’s crowning moment of 2023. It got much better.
Finally in 2023, Steele tasted premiership success for the second time in his career. And he did so by sealing the win with one of the most sweetly connected kicks of his career. The fifth Grand Final goal of his career may go down as the most iconic moment in the 2023 Grand Final, as the 60-metre set-shot put the Pies ahead by 10 points in the dying stages.
In 2010, he was the youngest on the premiership team. This time around, he was the third oldest behind Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe.
With the Grand Final win over the Lions, Steele and Pendlebury became the record-holders for the biggest gap from winning one premiership to winning the next (13 years).
It’s not the only record the pair hold. In Round 2, 2025, the legendary Collingwood duo broke the record for most V/AFL games as teammates. They overtook Adelaide pair Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards. At the time of writing, Steele and Pendlebury have suited up 321 times together.
On Anzac Day, Steele collected 35 disposals and a career-high 15 clearances - the second most in a game by a Collingwood player - to take home his second Anzac Day Medal. He became the oldest winner of the award at 34 years and 113 days.
And today, the kid from Tallygaroopna will play his 350th game. He becomes the 17th player to reach the mark as a one club player and the 13th player to 350 games without changing jumper number. Congratulations, Steele!
More Steele stats
- Third most uncontested possessions in VFL/AFL history
- 13th most disposals in VFL/AFL history (8105)
- 20th most wins in VFL/AFL history (212)
- Most games wearing jumper number 22 in VFL/AFL history
- Has missed just 42 games since making his debut
- 10th fastest player to 350 games, taking 16 years and 88 days from debut to game 350
- Is both the second youngest and the second oldest Collingwood player to have polled the maximum 10 AFL Coaches votes in a game. Nick Daicos is the youngest, Pendlebury the oldest. Sidebottom was 20y 119 days old when he polled 10 votes vs the Bulldogs in 2011 Round 6 and was 34y 113 days old when he polled 10 votes vs the Bombers in 2025 Round 7.
- Has played in 21 games decided by one point or less, the VFL/AFL record (shares the record with Pendlebury). 10 one-point wins, five one-point losses and 6 draws.
- The third-most watched player in VFL/AFL history after Dustin Fletcher and Scott Pendlebury. He has played in front of 18,199,580 footy fans.
- Has played in 197 wins with Pendlebury as well, the second most behind Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins (217).
- In 48 of his games, he was the youngest player in Collingwood’s side.
- Two games as the oldest in Collingwood’s side – both in 2025, against Adelaide (Round 7) and Richmond (Round 20).
Where Steele stands in Collingwood history
- #1 marks
- #2 disposals
- #2 goal assists
- #2 handballs
- #2 tackles
- #2 inside 50s
- #4 kicks
- #4 clearances
- #5 Brownlow votes
- #5 bounces
- #7 rebound 50s
- #33 goals
- Played in most draws in Collingwood history (six)
- Second most clearances recorded in a game (15) – Round 7, 2025 v Essendon
