Allan Sidebottom
Encyclopedia
Allan Norman Sidebottom (born 1 January 1959) is a former Australian rules football
er who played with St Kilda and Fitzroy
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1980s.
Sidebottom was already 24 when he began his VFL career in 1983, having played for Swan Districts
in Western Australia since 1977 and played in their 1982 premiership team. His elder brother, Garry Sidebottom
, had also played at Swan Districts before joining St Kilda.
A ruckman
, Sidebottom played only nine games in his first season for St Kilda but was a regular fixture in the side the following year after the retirement of Jeff Sarau
. He played 21 of a possible 22 games in 1984, took 99 marks, the third most by a St Kilda player and polled well in the 1984 Brownlow Medal count to finish equal eighth.
After making another 17 appearances in 1985, Sidebottom played just eight more games over the next one and a half seasons and midway through crossed to Fitzroy.
Only able to play one senior game for Fitzroy, Sidebottom returned to Swan Districts in 1988 for one final season and retired with 98 WAFL games to his name. He had also played a State of Origin
match for Western Australia against Victoria back in 1985, sharing the ruck duties with Andrew Purser
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with St Kilda and Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) during the 1980s.
Sidebottom was already 24 when he began his VFL career in 1983, having played for Swan Districts
Swan Districts Football Club
The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
in Western Australia since 1977 and played in their 1982 premiership team. His elder brother, Garry Sidebottom
Garry Sidebottom
Garry Sidebottom is a former Australian rules football player who played for the St Kilda, Geelong and Fitzroy Football Clubs in the Victorian Football League and Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League during the 1970s and 1980s.Sidebottom was a powerful and fearless player ideal...
, had also played at Swan Districts before joining St Kilda.
A ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
, Sidebottom played only nine games in his first season for St Kilda but was a regular fixture in the side the following year after the retirement of Jeff Sarau
Jeff Sarau
Jeff Sarau is a former Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda in the Victorian Football League and West Torrens Football Club in the South Australian National Football League as a ruckman....
. He played 21 of a possible 22 games in 1984, took 99 marks, the third most by a St Kilda player and polled well in the 1984 Brownlow Medal count to finish equal eighth.
After making another 17 appearances in 1985, Sidebottom played just eight more games over the next one and a half seasons and midway through crossed to Fitzroy.
Only able to play one senior game for Fitzroy, Sidebottom returned to Swan Districts in 1988 for one final season and retired with 98 WAFL games to his name. He had also played a State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
match for Western Australia against Victoria back in 1985, sharing the ruck duties with Andrew Purser
Andrew Purser
Andrew Purser is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League.A ruckman, Purser was a premiership player with East Fremantle in 1979. He joined Footscray in 1983 and played with the club for five seasons...
.