After nine seasons in the Black and White stripes, Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom has claimed his first E.W. Copeland Trophy at Crown Palladium on Friday evening.  

Having placed among the top five in the club’s best-and-fairest voting over the past five years, the 26-year-old polled 140 votes to cap off a brilliant 2017 season.  

Sidebottom edged out fellow midfielder Taylor Adams (139) by one vote to take home his first Copeland gong, while Adam Treloar (112), Jeremy Howe (111) and Brodie Grundy (91) rounded out the top five. 

Adams and Grundy enjoyed career-best seasons in Collingwood’s midfield, while Howe and Treloar were recognised for their All-Australian nominated years. 

After winning the club’s past four best-and-fairest medals, Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury finished with a impressive 91 votes, despite having missed the last six games with injury.  

In his absence, Sidebottom filled in as acting captain, leading the Magpies to three wins and a draw in their final six fixtures.  

After being selected with pick No. 11 in the 2008 National Draft, Sidebottom has gone to play 185 games for the Pies, including the 2010 premiership. 
 
Known as one of Collingwood’s most skilful and reliable performers, the winger has been a fan favourite since making his debut eight years ago. 
 
A pillar of consistency, Sidebottom played in each of Collingwood’s 22 games this season, averaging 27 disposals, five marks and four tackles.  
 
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is voted on by senior coach Nathan Buckley and his assistant coaches after each regular season match. 

The midfielder was awarded votes from the coaching panel in every game barring four, polling his highest tally (12) in the Pies’ season opener against the Bulldogs where he recorded 35 disposals and kicked two goals; in Collingwood’s 20-point victory over the Dockers in round 11, and for his 32-disposal, one-goal performance against the Suns in round 17. 

Meanwhile, in promising signs for Collingwood’s future, seven of the top 10 vote getters were aged 25 or younger, with budding defender Brayden Maynard the youngest of the group at 21 years of age. 

In other awards presented on the night, Tyson Goldsack won the Darren Millane Trophy, Callum Brown won the Harry Collier as best first year player and Marty Hore was voted best and fairest VFL player winning the Joseph Wren award. 

Jamie Elliott was awarded his second Gordon Coventry Trophy as the club’s leading goal kicker (36), in what was an incredible feat for the 23-year-old, given he missed the entire 2016 season with a serious back injury. 
 
2017 E.W. Copeland Trophy Top Ten  
1. Steele Sidebottom, 140 (E.W. Copeland Trophy)
2. Taylor Adams, 139 (R.T. Rush Trophy)
3. Adam Treloar, 112 (J.J. Joyce Trophy)
4. Jeremy Howe, 111 (J.F. McHale Trophy)
5. Brodie Grundy, 92(Jack Regan Trophy)
6. Scott Pendlebury, 91
7. Jack Crisp, 91
8. Brayden Maynard, 79
9. Jamie Elliott, 69
10. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 69

Other Awards 

Darren Millane Perpetual Memorial Trophy (Best Clubman)  
Tyson Goldsack 

Harry Collier Trophy (Best First Year Player)  
Callum Brown 

Gordon Coventry Award (Leading Goal Kicker)  
Jamie Elliott (34 goals) 
 
Joseph Wren Award (Best VFL Player)  
Marty Hore, 82 votes 

Along with his medallion, Steele Sidebottom was presented with a Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Chronograph watch courtesy of our great partners TAG Heuer. To view TAG Heuer’s selection of watches, please click here - https://www.tagheuer.com/en-au