The Collingwood legend and Congupna product has been invited onto the North Melbourne selection panel tasked with finding its new coach for 2027, after the Roos parted ways with Alastair Clarkson.
Clarkson, appointed ahead of the 2023 season, guided North to its highest wins tally since 2019 but nonetheless was sensationally given his marching orders, leaving the club scrambling to find a new mentor.
Sidebottom, whose 375-game career ended in this season’s wildcard final against the Western Bulldogs, is notably the sole North Melbourne outsider on the six-person panel including CEO Jennifer Watt, GM Todd Viney, club director Andrew Swallow, AFLW coach Darren Crocker, and vice-president Nick Dowling.
“North Melbourne has finalised details of the selection panel who will choose the club’s next senior AFL coach,” a club statement read.
“The panel will comprise strong leadership, coaching and football experience from across the club, and will be bolstered by recently retired AFL great, Steele Sidebottom.”
It’s the 35-year-old’s first move since his final game, though he has indicated in the media that his 2027 plans remain unclear.
Sidebottom played his juniors with Congupna before moving up through the Murray Bushrangers and, eventually, to the AFL in the 2008 National Draft.
Speculation would have been rife at the time of his retirement about a potential return to the country, but for the meantime at least, the Pies legend’s focus will turn to lending his expertise to North Melbourne’s pursuit of a new coach.
14°C