Steele Sidebottom, who has played 373 AFL games for Collingwood — the second most in the club's history behind Scott Pendlebury — informed teammates on Thursday that he will retire at the end of the current season.
Collingwood's Steele Sidebottom announces retirement after 373 AFL games
Steele Sidebottom, who has played 373 AFL games for Collingwood — the second most in the club's history behind Scott Pendlebury — informed teammates on Thursday that he will retire at the end of the current season.
Sidebottom debuted in 2009 at age 19 and was part of Collingwood's 2010 premiership side. He kicked a goal late in the 2023 grand final to help secure the club's next premiership, 13 years after the first.
The midfielder won Collingwood's Copeland Trophy in 2017 and 2018 and earned All-Australian honours once. He and Pendlebury have played the most matches together as teammates in VFL/AFL history, according to the source.
Pendlebury, who broke the VFL/AFL games record in May, is also reportedly weighing up his own future. Collingwood has the oldest list in the AFL and is described as attempting to remain in premiership contention while transitioning its list.
Collingwood is guaranteed a place in the wildcard round of the finals.
On the same day as Sidebottom's announcement, Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia also announced his retirement. Prestia began his career at Gold Coast before joining Richmond at the end of 2016. He played in three premierships — in 2017, 2019, and 2020 — in his first four seasons with the Tigers.
Prestia played only five games during the pandemic-affected 2020 season due to injury but returned to play in all four of Richmond's finals that year.
Prestia joins Richmond premiership teammate Nathan Broad in retiring this season. Prestia and Broad are to be farewelled in front of Richmond supporters this Saturday when the Tigers host St Kilda at the MCG.
- No response or comment from Collingwood or Richmond club officials is included in the source.
- The exact date of Sidebottom's final game, or whether Collingwood progresses further in the finals, is not yet established.
- Scott Pendlebury's position on his own retirement has not been formally stated, only that he is 'weighing up his future'.
- No details are provided on the terms or timing of Prestia's formal retirement announcement beyond Thursday.
Read the original at ABC News Australia