Garry Sidebottom
Encyclopedia
Garry Sidebottom is a former Australian rules football
player who played for the St Kilda, Geelong
and Fitzroy Football Club
s in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) and Swan Districts
in the West Australian Football League
(WAFL) during the 1970s and 1980s.
Sidebottom was a powerful and fearless player ideal for playing at centre half forward or as a ruckman
. A versatile forward good in the air and hard in the clinches he kicked 227 goals while at Swan Districts and 145 goals while in the VFL.
He played in the inaugural State of Origin team for Western Australia in 1977 when WA defeated Victoria. In 1984 Sidebottom kicked 6 goals playing for WA against Victoria in another famous victory to the Sandgropers. He represented WA fifteen times in state games.
Sidebottom entered football folklore when he missed the Geelong
team bus to play in the 1981 Preliminary Final against Collingwood
. His team-mate Peter Johnston
took his place at the last minute, despite being told earlier he had not been selected. Johnston went on to play a memorable game despite eating half a chicken and a bucket of chips along with a strawberry thickshake shortly before the game began.
Garry Sidebottom returned to Swan Districts as a coach
of the reserves
side in 2007. He is the older brother of Allan Sidebottom
who also played for Swan Districts, St Kilda and Fitzroy.
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...
player who played for the St Kilda, Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and Fitzroy Football Club
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...
s 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) and 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 the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL) during the 1970s and 1980s.
Sidebottom was a powerful and fearless player ideal for playing at centre half forward or as 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...
. A versatile forward good in the air and hard in the clinches he kicked 227 goals while at Swan Districts and 145 goals while in the VFL.
He played in the inaugural State of Origin team for Western Australia in 1977 when WA defeated Victoria. In 1984 Sidebottom kicked 6 goals playing for WA against Victoria in another famous victory to the Sandgropers. He represented WA fifteen times in state games.
Sidebottom entered football folklore when he missed the Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
team bus to play in the 1981 Preliminary Final against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. His team-mate Peter Johnston
Peter Johnston (footballer, born 1957)
Peter Andrew Johnston is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and Geelong in the Victorian Football League .-Melbourne:...
took his place at the last minute, despite being told earlier he had not been selected. Johnston went on to play a memorable game despite eating half a chicken and a bucket of chips along with a strawberry thickshake shortly before the game began.
Garry Sidebottom returned to Swan Districts as a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of the reserves
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
side in 2007. He is the older brother of Allan Sidebottom
Allan Sidebottom
Allan Norman Sidebottom is a former Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda and Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League during the 1980s....
who also played for Swan Districts, St Kilda and Fitzroy.