WHEN Luke Ball went down with a season-ending knee injury in round three, Collingwood's pre-season plan to redefine the role of Steele Sidebottom went from canny to inspired.
It was then that the Magpies' need to find another inside gatherer of the hard ball - a role Sidebottom was "cutting his teeth on" in pre-season, according to coach Nathan Buckley - became critical.
One month later and Sidebottom's stellar turn against the Brisbane Lions in round seven was an exclamation point on his journey to becoming a key cog in Collingwood's engine room.
Sidebottom's value has never been questioned since he debuted three years ago, but his form in 2012 suggests that "the next level", a holy grail in a midfielder's development, is being attained.
He played the eyes out of the game in the first quarter, gathering 15 possessions, kicking a goal, winning four clearances and doing more than any other player on the ground to shape the match.
Typically, Sidebottom played a dead bat when asked about his contribution after the game but his coach was more effusive.
"He's had a good year, he's had a great year," Buckley said of Sidebottom's season to date.
"He's really built and progressed. He works so hard; he's a hard runner up and back, two-way running."
It was just this type of running - and an ability to read the play - that saw Sidebottom bobbing up where it seemed his team needed him most.
When he wasn't clearing the ball from a stoppage, he was stymieing Lions attacks or taking the ball inside 50 for Collingwood scores.
He bookended his game with a second goal in the final term and Buckley believes Sidebottom's stature as a top-level onballer will continue to grow.
"He's cut his teeth as an inside mid through the NAB Cup and he's really developed from that," Buckley said.
"[He's had] the opportunity to push up against some of the bigger bodies in the competition and he doesn’t look out of place".
Perhaps sensing his growing importance to the team, some of Sidebottom's teammates have made him the butt of jibes regarding his ball-gathering prowess.
"The last few weeks the boys were getting into me about not cracking 30 [disposals] but I think I might have got there tonight", Sidebottom said about his performance at the Gabba.
"I think our record up here hasn’t been that good. I think we've won three of the last 11 so our focus was to come up and play consistent footy."
He also echoed a sentiment expressed by his coach, saying the Pies' start to the season - perceived as stuttering by some - was beginning to gather pace.
"We're taking little steps as we go," Sidebottom said.
"If we can keep on the rise hopefully we can still be going at the other end of the season, when it counts."
