Steele Sidebottom is renowned at Collingwood for his sunny outlook on life.
And it was his trademark cheeky grin and carefree demeanour that caught the eye of Dayne Beams in the days after they were selected by Collingwood with the club’s first and second picks in the 2008 national draft.
“He always seems to be smiling, even when he’s playing and being serious,” Beams told Collingwood Media. “It’s pretty much permanently there.
“That’s the sort of guy he is and I guess that’s why I was drawn to him early on. He’s just one of those people that you always want to be around.
“He’s a funny guy, who always knows how to make you laugh.”
Beams and Sidebottom have been close friends since the early days of their first pre-season in late ’08.
Back then, the club had two houses for draftees. They didn’t live in the same one, but they were, as Beams recalled, “always hanging around together.”
“I guess out of all the draftees, he was the one that I connected with the most,” Beams added. “We formed a great friendship from the start.
“When I was a kid, I spent quite a bit of time with my old man at Mulwala in country New South Wales. He’s from Shepparton, so I suppose we both had that sort of country background.”
Even though Beams is now based in Queensland and plays for the Brisbane Lions, he remains close to Sidebottom, and he is rapt that his great mate will notch his 200th AFL game when the Pies take on Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.
“He’s certainly someone I respect a lot,” Beams said. “In my opinion, there’s no one in the game who deserves to play 200 games more than he does.
“He’s probably the most important player at Collingwood. He’s the fabric of the side, the heart and soul, and he’d do anything for his teammates.
“And he’s been such a durable player. He’s got to 200 a lot quicker than me. I’ve still got 40 to go.”
Dayne Beams and Steele Sidebottom before the semi-final against Adelaide in 2009 (AFL Photos)
Having made their AFL debuts during the first half of the 2009 season, Beams and Sidebottom flourished the following year, playing key roles in Collingwood’s 15th premiership.
“The thing Steele’s always been able to do is play well in big games,” Beams said. “I know early on in our careers, when Mick Malthouse coached us, he was really big on that.
“Steele was able to have a fantastic Grand Final in 2010, and if the cards had fallen his way he could’ve won the Norm Smith Medal.
“At such a young age, playing so well in such a big game was a great achievement.
“For us to play in a premiership at that age – I was 20 and he was 19 – was a very special thing to share together.”
Sidebottom and Beams celebrate a goal against Geelong in round 19, 2010 (AFL Photos)
Beams readily admits that he and Sidebottom were ratbags during those early years at Collingwood.
“We were both blokes who loved footy, loved playing footy, but also loved a beer and having a good time,” he said.
“When we were both youngsters we used to play around and muck up a bit and have a laugh and have some good times, but I think now we’re both pretty settled.
“He’s got long-term partner, I’ve got a wife and two kids, so we’ve come a long way from those days are we were drafted.
“When it comes to footy, we’ve both gone into leadership roles and matured as players and teammates.
“He might be a future captain of Collingwood.”
Beams is not surprised in the slightest that Sidebottom has made it to 200 games.
“He’s a footballer’s footballer,” Beams said. “He just knows the game. It seems to come naturally to him.
“I think he’s the best player at the competition at being able to kick off both sides of his body.
“He’s gone under the radar for a long time, I think, but I think he’s starting to get the recognition this year that’s he deserves.”
Despite having his hands full with a newborn and a toddler, Beams is aiming to be glued to his TV on Sunday when Sidebottom runs on to the MCG for his milestone match.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said. “I still take a close interest in how Collingwood is going and it’s great to see the club playing well and great to see Steele playing well.
“He’s been a great friend for me. My later father used to call Steele his third son. So he’s had a great relationship with not only myself but with my whole family.
“He’s a bloody legend of a bloke and I love him.”
Sidebottom and Beams shake hands after a game between the Pies and Lions in 2016 (AFL Photos)
