Almanac Footy: Shipping Steele – celebrating 300 Sidebottom shipments

 

Hammer down the open road
Steel pigs my only load
Country songs are always playin’
She’s a goin’, he’s a staying
‘Shipping Steel’  Cold Chisel

 

 ==

 

Look, here he is. Arriving on the full back line like the cavalry. Providing a chop-out option.

 

Look, here he is. Setting up for a boundary throw-in. One cheeky glance to the ruckman contains somehow a nod, a smirk, and an eye-brow raise all at once and you know something is about to go down.

 

Look, here he is, arcing away from goal, finding space, calling for it.

 

Look, here he is at a scrum, doubled over, panting, holding the legs of his shorts.

 

Look here he is in the congested forward line, takes possession, gives a handball and sprints to receive it back. Goal.

 

==

 

He arrives as Geelong is up and about. As Hawthorn has won the thing. As St Kilda play to suffocate. He is first pick at Collingwood, where hope ferments in a barrel out the back, thickened with broken dreams of 2002/3. There’s M Malthouse, N Buckley. There’s N Maxwell, there’s A Didak, H Shaw, D Thomas. And look a couple of jets: D Swan and S Pendlebury. By Round 9 2009, the skinny kid from Murray Bushrangers, Steele Sidebottom, makes his debut – a skilful, cheeky, personable bloke from Congupna – Goulburn/ Murray country. Youngest of five brothers.

 

And “he goes alright, the kid.”

 

The next year, 2010, here’s L Ball, here’s D Jolly and here’s young S Sidebottom. He plays all but one game – the only teenager on the field for the two Grand Finals – for the Collingwood premiership.

 

==

 

Briquets keep the fires burning
Diesel keeps the wheels turning
Hikers on the edge of town
Start off young and end up learning
‘Shipping Steel’,  Cold Chisel

 

==

 

It is 2010. I’m at the MCG and every time Steele Sidebottom touches the footy, the same two blokes stand with outstretched arms to sing the chorus from Cold Chisel’s 1976 song ‘Shipping Steel’.

 

It is perfect.

 

Shipping Steel tells of a long-haul truck-driver’s philosophical reflections on being a key plank in a logistics, distribution and delivery network. The trucky’s role much like that of Steele Sidebottom himself, at Collingwood.  Across years since that day, that song comes to mind every time I see the nimble, skilful, athletic frame in #22.

 

==

Shipping steel, shipping steel…
Nobody knows, the way it feels
Caught between Heaven and the Highway
Shipping steel, shipping steel…
‘Shipping Steel’  Cold Chisel

 

==

 

Look, here he is holding position at the ruckman’s feet, eyebrows high on his forehead. He looks out the corner of his eye as he takes possession, sells the dummy.

 

‘Key plank in a logistics, distribution and delivery network’. Sounds about right.
Played all but one game of 2010.
/     Collingwood Premiers 2010
Best and fairest 2017-18
Runner-up Brownlow 2018
/     Collingwood Runners-Up 2018

 

==

 

Here he is in the attacking goal square facing four Gold Coast opponents. The ball hits the deck. Suns players jump on the pill. He drags one opponent off the ball, careful not to give away a free kick. The ball sluices around a mass of bodies. And when the ball rolls his way, he flicks his foot beyond a shepherding opponent, kicks the ball off the ground and watches it dribble through for a goal.

 

==

 

Here he is running towards the Docklands boundary line on the 50 m arc. He takes possession and shimmies free of his North Melbourne opponent, wrong-footing him with a shiver of his back. Ball in hand, he glances back over his shoulder, straightens, runs at goal and from a tight angle, drop punts it through the middle. D Cometti in commentary:

 

“Sidebottom. Brilliantly done.
     And again.
     Silky.
     Look at that!
     How many o’s in smooth?
            Magnificent kick!“

 

==

 

Interviewer: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Steele Sidebottom: Shepparton

 

==

 

Some men need a family
Need the club fraternity
God’s salvation guaranteed
Mac’s the only friend I need
‘Shipping Steel’  Cold Chisel

 

==

 

I’m with the young buds at the footy. With a footy record.
“Hey Bud, let’s draw moustaches and tattoos on all the people.”
“Yeah. And put circles around the funny names.”
“Oh, look Bud!”
“Hahaha!”
“Dad, it says number 22 is Steele Sidebottom! Is that his real name?”

 

==

 

It seems that wherever S Sidebottom goes, he brings a smile.

 

To watch S Sidebottom is a joy. It is wholesome, good fun. Coaches and teammates must love him – anyone so dependable in a world of chaos would be priceless. You just know that every week, in every moment, he will choose to act to the benefit of the team. He will make excellent position. He will run vast distances. He will actively operate to make his teammates look better. He is a distributor.

 

==

 

Here he is after game #298, players forming a circle in the rooms, preparing to sing the song. It is Mother’s Day. Quiet descends on the rooms. But instead of beginning the song, S Sidebottom calls “can we get all the mums in here? Join the circle!” An eruption of cheers and movement and happiness washes over the rooms.

 

==

 

Here he is after slotting another goal from open play. He turns towards the centre, both elbows at 90 degrees, both forearms facing up, both fists clenched. His eyes shine with the joy of Charlie Bucket, eyebrows rise like the sun.

 

==

 

Here he is, he runs half the field with the gait of Hicham El Guerrouj to provide an option in the back pocket, calling for the switch kick. He is unmarked.

 

==

 

Here he is in a sport full of alphas, beta-ing away on relationships, fun, the unseen stuff. Again and again. (Ref: Jeremy Howe here)

 

==

 

And this week, here he is, as he becomes just the fourth player to reach 300 games for Collingwood. He joins Gordon Coventry, Tony Shaw and Scott Pendlebury.

 

Congratulations Steele Sidebottom.
It remains a joy.

 

Shipping steel, shipping steel…

 

==

 

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