Garry Sidebottom RIP

[kosifantutti]

I heard last week he was very unwell and I was told that his passing was mentioned on 3AW last night.

This is all I can find online.


Played 54 games for the Saints 40 years ago but he was a huge name and a big presence especially in his first year in 1978.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players ... ottom.html

[SemperFidelis]

Wow. That’s very sad news.

A very big name when I was a kid.

And then there was that story about the bus ....

RIP

[saintspremiers]

Sad news only 64!

Is he any relation to Tin Arse who plays for the Filth?

[degruch]

Nooooo...not Sidey Had #2 on my jumper back in the day. RIP.

[Cairnsman]

He was a handy player too.

Vale Garry.

[kosifantutti]

[saynta]

Left saints and went to the cats. RIP mate.

[CQ SAINT]

Had 2 on my first dufflecoat. RIP Sidey.

[spert]

Saw him play many times for the Saints- a great player and would fit into our team at CHF now. RIP

[shanegrambeau]

!979. What a season for us. n0t! Garry was one of our few stars. My 14 year old desperately failing faith looked to him like he was superman.
Round One we beat Hawthorn at Moorabbin.
Round Four
Collingwood 31.27.207 St Kilda 3.11.29
We went on to beat South and Richmond that year. Spoon, but Garry kicked 55.
RIP. Too young.

[evertonfc]

Sad news. RIP.

[leighsaintsince66]

Sidey was at his best alongside big Carl.
Way to young to die. R.I.P.

[Junction Oval]

Sad News at such a young age. My young son stood next to Sidey in the rooms at Moorabbin one day and was over-awed at what a giant he was. Lots of pizzazz with Sidey. R.I.P.

[On the Bench]

Here's a couple of links to articles in the Perth papers.

https://thewest.com.au/sport/swan-distr ... 881151434z

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/f ... 47ff243e77

Sidey was one of my favourites when we were teased by a bit more success in the late 70's.
He was a beuaty.
Vale and thanks for some great memories.

[Sainter_Dad]

RIP Garry - you were well loved by us as teenagers during your playing years.

[Joffa Burns]

I heard last week he was very unwell and I was told that his passing was mentioned on 3AW last night.

This is all I can find online.


Played 54 games for the Saints 40 years ago but he was a huge name and a big presence especially in his first year in 1978.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players ... ottom.html

Only 54 games?
Wow if you'd asked me to guess I would have thought closer to 100.
And 40 years ago, remember it like yesterday.

He was a big name in his day and reportedly highly paid for his era.
Was a fan of the big fella.

Vale!

[guitars4]

I remember the day Big Carl & Sidebottom sorted out a few of the Essendon blokes at Windy Hill RIP mate

[saynta]

I remember the day Big Carl & Sidebottom sorted out a few of the Essendon blokes at Windy Hill RIP mate

With a bit of help from Jimmy O'Dea, Jeff Sarau and I think, Mad Dog Muir.

[saynta]

His brother played for us as well. Alan, who played one more game for us than his brother

[Bowey Boy]

He was Superman in 1979 but his chest turned to rubber the next year and marks kept bouncing off his chest. Still, one average year and he was shafted, cos of the “big” money I presume.

[SemperFidelis]

Brilliant tribute from Russell Holmesby on the Saints site (cracking photo too):

https://www.saints.com.au/news/2019-03- ... sidebottom

[supersaints2]

I thought he was a great player... took some games apart at CHF....
I remember when he went to Geelong... he was living in Lara ( or little river ) and the bus forgot to pick him up on the highway on the way to the MCG
Was a great torpedo kick
Sadly we are the same age ... life's short RIP

[Trev from the Bush]

Very sad. At his best Sidey was decades before his time. His arrival in '78, when we had a fair bit of experience and talent, should have been the springboard to our second premiership. I reckon we could have gone all the way in 1978 but we completely lost our compass after the "animals" match. We left our run too late missing the finals by 2 points; our last game thrashing of the Blues at Moorabbin, memorable for Robbie Muir's demolition job, saw many of our stars retire or move on - take Hunt, George Young, Ditterich etc out of your team and you will struggle. And we struggled until 1991.

Sidebottom was our only shining light in 1979 but he really lost it all once Jesaulenko arrived and the poor old Swamp Fox got the chop. Garry could be Wayne Carey like at his best, he was that good. Unfortunately he was "managed" by the Club in the manner which became the Saints trademark - sold on to the highest bidder.

Those who moan about our recruiting in recent years should consider the wisdom of signing Jesaulenko. Sure, he was the reigning premiership captain / coach but, as a player, he was in his 14th season when he came and was pretty well shot. As a coach, he took our best player and captain (Garry Sidebottom) and turned him into an also ran. Jezza also gave great credence to the theory good footballers make good coaches,

Sidey was a wonderful footballer and a real character, gone too soon. R.I.P. big fella.

[Trev from the Bush]

What I meant was that good footballers make the coach, not the other way around!

[Bernard Shakey]

CURLY would love the '78 season.
After the "Animals" game we lost nine in a row thanks to the umpires, and probably a directive from the VFL.
Just missed the finals, and if we'd made it, would probably have been premiers!