- I was doing a traveling section in the Collingwood sheds
- Sidebottom spotted in a group of people
- Did not recognize the Australian champion
Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor is famous for his roving interviews after AFL matches, but he missed a trick after Collingwood’s preliminary final victory, mistaking an Australian superstar for Magpie’s brother.
Collingwood held on for a thrilling one-point win over GWS on Friday night and morale was high in the dressing room when “BT” entered, microphone in hand.
He spotted Magpies veteran Steele Sidebottom and immediately went for a chat.
“Steele Sidebottom here,” Taylor began.
“Is this the brother, Steele?” He looks like a brother.
‘No? Who is it?’
Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor asks Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom if the guy next to him is his brother.
The man in question, circled, was in fact Australian keeper and batsman Matthew Wade.
The man Taylor was referring to was Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade, who played over 200 matches for the Australians in all three formats of the game.
“Matty Wade,” Sidebottom replied.
“So is Matty Wade the cricketer. I thought he looked like you,” Taylor said.
So what was Wade doing in the Collingwood sheds after the match?
The hugely successful Tasmanian is actually the cousin of Magpies defender Jeremy Howe.
Matthew Wade and Jeremy Howe are cousins and often celebrate their sporting achievements.
Jeremy Howe dressed in Australian Test Cricket gear with his wife Kahlia Ashton (centre) and Matthew Wade’s wife Bec Wade
Meanwhile, Collingwood forward Daniel McStay emerges as the heartbreaking story of the AFL’s big last week as he nervously awaits the results of scans on his injured knee.
McStay scored two vital goals in the Magpies’ thrilling one-point preliminary final victory – 8.10 (58) to 8.9 (57) – over GWS on Friday night before injuring his right knee in the third quarter.
He tested the joint but was ruled out three-quarters of the way through with the match still in the balance.
McStay looked dejected amid otherwise jubilant scenes in the Collingwood dressing room after the match.
“He’s going to have scans. I’m not good with the terminology, I’m not sure if it’s an MCL,” Magpies coach Craig McRae said.
“I’m not sure yet, so we’ll do some scans.” I don’t want to make a final decision on this, but I think he might be unlucky to miss this opportunity. We will wait and see.
“For now, until you really know, you put your arms around him and show him your love and support as best you can.
“It will play out pretty quickly, I would have thought.”
