Steele SIDEBOTTOM

2017 Digest:   Ideal wingman for the modern game with his bottomless tank and neat delivery off both sides. Taggers got to him last season.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	WB	The Round 1 specialist was everywhere in the first term. Two goals to go with game-high 35 touches.	8
2	Rich	Started brightly, as he so often does, but became a non-factor. Only eight kicks not enough from his wing.	5
3	Syd	Laid 12 tackles, which isn’t his normal gig, but composure under pressure with ball in hand was important at key times.	8
4	StK	Prolific first half (15 kicks) waltzing around a wing and 31 touches, but disposal efficiency (50%) well down on best.	6
5	Ess	Ineffective as a half forward but more influential when given more freedom. 25 touches but no real influence.	5
6	Geel	Last time he played a bad game Harry Holt was still sizing up the surf. Just the 13 effective disposals but found space to use footy.	6
7	Carl	Vanished for long stretches and although touched it 19 times his disposals were rarely incisive.	4
8	GWS	Three goals in first half as the half forward “spitter” coming off the back of the square. Quiet second half.	6
9	Haw	Ineffective first half but quietly went about compiling 27 possessions and snapping the sealer.	6
10	Bris	Must have failed to use deodorant as Lions wouldn’t go near him; 34 disposals, five inside-50s and a 28 uncontested possessions.	8
11	Frem	One of the key ball winners with 33 disposals and rarely wasted it.	7
12	Melb	Amassed more leather than the Hellfire cloak room to end with 32 possessions, two goals, four clearances and a four tackles.	8
13		Bye.
14	Port	Gathered usual tally of possessions (36) but just three inside-50s, no goals and four clearances.	7
15	Haw	Racked up stats but got a little cute at times with his decision-making and kicking which proved costly. By his standards a howler.	4
16	Ess	Not having the impact he can with ball in hand. Tried hard but just four inside-50s and four clearances.	7
17	GCS	Made it look easy in the slippery conditions, handling the ball cleanly and amassing 32 possessions.	8
18	WCE	Tagged by Hutchings. 20 disposals and down on normal influence.	5
19	Adel	Rarely wastes a possession and always seems to make the right decision moving the footy forward.	6
20	NM	Some really uncharacteristic turnovers with the ball in hand. One of his more pedestrian outings.	6
21	Port	Always makes something happen with the footy in hand, has elite kicking skills on both feet.	7
22	Geel	Ball-winning wingman did what he could but certainly not one of his best games; 13 effective disposals and six inside-50s.	5
23	Melb	Smart with everything he did and bobbed up in the right spots. Showed a cool head late when it was required.	7

2016 Season

1	Syd	The only one finding space in first half. Vanished in third term but finished well. Suspension looming?	6
2		Suspended.
3		Suspended.
4	Melb	Productive throughout. Two goals, four clearances and some handy work forward of centre.	7
5	Ess	Kicked four goals and had 21 disposals in opening half. Critical in setting up the win.	9
6	WCE	Started slowly, got busy in middle stages. Improved as the game went on.	5
7	Carl	Rolled up from half forward to play seventh midfielder. Good ball winner and had five clearances.	7
8	Bris	Broke even with Bewick in first half but let loose after half time.	8
9	Geel	Celebrated game 150 with a typical destructive display through the midfield. Huge.	8
10	WB	Prolific ball winner in first half. Dominant on the wing until checked by Daniel.	7
11	Port	Showed class in front of goal with two majors but wasn’t able to get hands on ball as much as normal.	6
12	Melb	Started well then Bugg put the clamps on him. Gathered 10 disposals after quarter-time.	5
14	Frem	Tagged by Barlow so not as prolific as he can be after quarter time.	6
15	Carl	Won a bit of it but not his usual impact. Uses the ball better than most.	6
16	GWS	Always busy on a wing and half forward and continually drove ball into forward 50.	7
17	Adel	Absence of close tag this game allowed him a little more freedom on the wing.	7
18	NM	Big possession winner if ineffective in first half and brilliant goal in third term.	7
19	WCE	When some class was required, he stood up with a key goal and composed ball use.	7
20	Rich	Found space off a wing for 22 touches, six tackles and five inside-50s.	7
21	WB	Had better of duel with Daniel and showed class. Negated by Picken in second half.	7
22	GCS	Busy from start to finish in middle and pushed forward to be a threat.	7
23	Haw	Found plenty of the ball and a constant source of drive. Six inside-50s.	8

2015 Season

1	Bris	Superb first half. But serious thumb injury cut him down late in the match.	6
2		Thumb.
3		Thumb.
4		Thumb.
5		Thumb.
6		Thumb.
7		Thumb.
8	GCS	Made welcome return from injury and straight back into the groove.	6
9	NM	Pies’ best early and kept on working hard in midfield.	7
10	Melb	Grabbed 13 disposals after half time to help stave off the Demons.	6
11	GWS	Started on Scully on wing. Worked into game to play a role.	6
13	Frem	Quiet first half (five effective disposals) then lifted slightly but impact low.	5
14	Haw	Matched on Smith at start. Won plenty of touches and had big second term.	7
15	Port	Got better as the game wore on with clean handling and neat kicking.	7
16	WCE	Had 20 touches to half time. Non-stop effort across four quarters.	8
17	WB	Just five contested possessions among his 33 touches but was good on outside.	7
18	Melb	Had 21 disposals to half time but shut down by Cross in the second.	6
19	Carl	Not his best game as closely marked by one-touch ball handling stood out.	6
20	Syd	Won plenty of the ball, delivered deftly and kept pumping away.	7
21	Rich	Racked up stats but many were deep in back pocket. At least work-rate good.	7
22	Geel	Geelong paid him no respect and paid the price. He torched the Cats.	8
23	Ess	Ran hard all day and racked up the stats. Three clearances, three inside-50s.	7

2014 Season

1	Frem	Missed chances (0.3) and many of his 22 disposals were cheapies. Needs a harder edge.	5
2	Syd	One of the Pies’ quietest.	3
3	Geel	Ran hard and creative all over the field. Six tackles, a goal, three inside-50s.	7
4	Rich	OK without starring. Had good numbers and used the ball better this week.	6
5	NM	Twenty-one disposals from half back in first half when game was hottest.	8
6	Ess	Came to life with three second-term goals that got side back into contest.	8
7	Carl	Handy contribution across four quarters.	5
9	Adel	Played wing then forward for long periods and OK but no goals.	6
10	WCE	Racked up plenty of ball but lots of it in back half – only one inside-50.	6
11	StK	Reported in opening 10 seconds but had big first quarter and was a major force.	7
12		Suspended.
13		Suspended.
14		Suspended.
15	Carl	Pies’ best with nine tackles, 16 contested possessions and seven clearances.	8
16	GCS	Drove ball inside 50 seven times and booted a goal.	7
17	Ess	Slow start then fired from late in first term. Kept plugging away.	6
18	Adel	Everywhere. Not always clean but won a heap of footy and worked hard.	7
19	Port	All over the field all night to continually give his side drive.	8
20	WCE	Gave away silly free early that cost a goal. Ran hard into space.	7
21	Bris	Good first half (16 disp) then faded right out. Only two inside-50s.	6
22	GWS	Bugg tried to shut him down but class at times was important.	7
23	Haw	Pies’ best – 16 contested possessions, seven inside-50s and nine clearances.	8
QF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

1	NM	Won a lot of the ball early, but less impact after half time.	6
2	Carl	Had a great battle with Bell and was instrumental late.	7
3	Haw	Horror afternoon. Didn’t get into the game at all. Failed to register an inside-50.	3
4	Rich	Produced a four-goal cameo to be one of the architects of the win.	7
5	Ess	Monster first half netted 22 disposals then slowed after that – six tackles.	8
6	StK	Geary ran with him and he was hardly had a factor. Sides have worked him out.	3
7	Frem	Helped kick-start the fightback and put up big numbers opposed to Mzungu.	8
8	Geel	Chipped in at times without starring – a goal and four tackles.	6
9	Syd	With Hannebery early. Strong start to the game but faded.	5
10	Bris	Linked up well through the midfield and continually drove the ball forward.	8
11	Melb	Quelled by McKenzie early then got off the chain. Contributed enough.	6
12	WB	Incisive user of the ball.	6
14	Port	Another midfielder who struggled against the Power’s more intense onball brigade.	5
15	Carl	Tagged by Curnow but still had 23 disposals – 12 contested – in fine effort.	7
16	Adel	Among the best in first half and maintained momentum playing at half back.	7
17	GCS	Worked really hard for four quarters, and kicked a goal.	7
18	GWS	Worked up from half forward to find plenty of ball. Three goals were icing.	8
19	Ess	Best afield. Read the play, used ball well, kicked a goal and found space all night.	8
20	Syd	Played an important defensive role at half forward and kicked two of his own.	6
21	Haw	Enjoyed a good battle with Hill and used the ball fairly well. One of the Pies better performers.	6
22	WCE	Four goal assists in first half and ended up among the best. Ball use superb.	7
23	NM	One of the Pies who looked like he had both eyes on the final rather than the game.	4
EF	Port	Numbers slowly crept up to be the Pies’ best on the night. Clean performance.	7
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

1	Haw	Along with Pendlebury helped side get back into game in third term.	7
2	Rich	Stats were deceptive. Good third term but otherwise not a big influence.	5
3	Carl	Good first half, two handy goals, but still a second-string mid.	7
4	Port	Really good early when game was hot. Kicked two goals from 21 disposals.	7
5	Ess	Precise ball use a critical factor. Another quality big-match performance.	8
6	WB	Clean hands and ball use a key to his game. Helping fill the Ball void.	7
7	Bris	The Lions had no answer for his stellar effort. Ran around unopposed.	8
8	Geel	Ball handling one touch and disposal immaculate. Becoming a real factor.	9
9	Adel	Kicked two goals and a thorn in the Crows’ side all night.	8
10	GCS	Mostly handballs in a low-key performance. Efficiency high as ever.	6
11	Melb	Huge. In everything and was feeding teammates all day with his disposals.	9
13	WCE	Foot passing immaculate; not quite as prolific as he has been.	6
14	Frem	Not as damaging as he has been but numbers good, seven tackles.	7
15	Carl	Efficiency a little down but kept trying. Only two clearances, one inside-50.	6
16	Geel	Slow start (zero disposal first term) but joined the party. Used the footy well.	6
17	Haw	Found the footy in space but only one clearance and three inside-50s.	6
19	StK	Huge early when game red-hot. Game high 11 clearances, workrate tireless.	8
20	Syd	Produced a solid all-round display and showed class when moving forward.	6
21	NM	Busy with 16 kicks and 10 handballs, but no goals.	6
22	WCE	Had 25 possessions but they weren’t of his usual quality.	6
23	Ess	Dempsey was with him at the start. Unobtrusive but reasonable game.	5
QF	Haw	Helped bring Collingwood back into it in second term.	6
SF	WCE	Workrate first class and used ball brilliantly which was the key.	8
PF	Syd	Unseen in a poor first half. Lifted a bit but couldn’t get free on the wing.	3