The high leaping and mobile Allan Sidebottom exhibited his talent in virtually his only injury free season at St Kilda in 1984, playing twenty one of a possible twenty two games, taking ninety nine marks and polling twelve votes in Brownlow Medal counting, including three firsts as best on ground.But Allan Sidebottom was a player whose football career never reached the heights it should have.Continual injury problems forcing him to miss over two years of playing time never allowed him to completely fulfill his undoubted potential.One of seven Sidebottoms to wear the black and white of Swan Districts, Allan made his league debut in 1977 as an eighteen year old, after playing his junior football with Midvale. In 1978 he combined with Ron Boucher and Greg Frost to provide Swan Districts with a strong ruck battery to complement the roving skills of players like Graham Melrose, Gerard Neesham, and the Narkles.Swan Districts returned to grand final action in 1980, but were soundly beaten by South Fremantle. It was 1982 that saw Sidebottom emerge as a ruckman of class. Highly rated by coach John Todd, who would play him on South Fremantle star Stephen Michael whenever the two teams met, he was presented with a challenge on grand final day. When Ron Boucher was hampered with a crook ankle, Todd said to Allan: “It’s time to step up.”And step up he did.Sidebottom rose to the occasion, and was considered by many unlucky not to be awarded the Simpson Medal, which was won by team mate Melrose. The display didn’t go unnoticed on the Eastern Seaboard either, with St Kilda showing most interest, and the following season saw Allan at Moorabbin.  He played State of Origin football for Western Australia in July, 1985, partnering Andrew Purser in the ruck, with brother Gary also in the side. Apart from the memorable 1984 season, injuries dogged the lightly built Sidebottom, and after fifty five games with the Saints he transferred to Fitzroy, a club that was looking for a partner for Matt Rendell, midway through 1987, but played only one game before returning to Swan Districts, where he played one more season.Injuries took their toll, and Allan retired from league football at the end of the 1988 season, his ninety eight games with Swan Districts adding to the fifty six he played in Victoria. Sidebottom then captain-coached Kalgoorlie Railways to two grand final appearances in two years, before playing at Northampton, and coaching the colts. He was then appointed coach of Busselton, and has been in the seaside town ever since. Employed in the mining industry after flirting with small business, he coaches and plays super-rules when his fly in fly out commitments allow. Allan and wife Dianne have five children..Mitchell, Jordan, Heidi, Kathleen, and Chantelle.    Stephen Michael gets Sidebottom’s vote as hardest to combat. “We were of similar height and stature, but he was a terrific player.”  Phil Narkle was the player Allan considers was the best he played with. He recalled the day that Swans were getting flogged on a wet and miserable day. “Toddy sent the forwards to the back line and vice versa, so full forward Mark Olsen, not renowned for his long kicking, went to the other end.”“The ball went through for a point and Olsen went to kick it back into play. At the crucial moment the wind blew the ball straight back over his head.”Allan Sidebottom’s continual battle with injury certainly affected his career, but he was still a fine ruckman and a premiership player at Swan Districts.